1461

 

Peperomia tetraphylla (G.Forst.) Hook. & Arn

Synonym	:	Micropiper pusillum Miq.
Family	:	Piperaceae
Local name	:	English -American rubber plant
Flowering and fruiting period	:	February-March
Distribution	:	Pantropical
Distribution in Kerala	:	Palakkad, Wayanad, Thiruvananthapuram, Idukki, Malappuram, Kannur
Habitat	:	Evergreen, moist deciduous and shola forests
Uses	:	Used as ornamental plants
Key botanical characters:  Epiphytic herbs; branches diffuse to procumbent; stem and leaves thinly pubescent. Leaves 7-10 x 5-7 mm, orbicular, obtuse. Spike 1.5 cm long, erect, stout; peduncle 0.8 cm long; bracts peltate, sessile, with white margins. Flowers densely arranged; stamens 2; stigmas 3-toothed. Nutlets 0.8 x 0.4 mm, ovoid, beaked, brown, glabrous.