Most peperomia flowers seem odorless to humans but some carry a musty or even unpleasant odor, such as P. Peperomia flowers are typically unnoticeable, growing in cordlike spikes, although there are some exceptions such as P. Currently just under 50 species of geophytic peperomias are known, but new ones continue to be discovered. These plants have leaves that fall off in the colder dry season, survive due to their underground tubers, and grow the leaves back as more rain falls. The third group contains geophytic peperomias. They store water both in their stout stems and in their succulent leaves, which typically form a sort of “tube” or “burrito”, appearing U- or V-shaped in cross-section, often with epidermal windows on the top-side. They are adapted to withstanding a long warm season followed by a colder winter and very little rainfall. The second group consists of more arid-climate, succulent peperomias, which are often found in higher altitudes. They also enjoy high air humidity, warm temperatures, and grow all year round. They may be green or striped, marbled or bordered with pale green, red or gray, and the petioles of some kinds are red. The leaves may be oval with the leafstalk at or near the center of the leaf blade, or they may be heart-shaped or lance-shaped their size varies from 2.5–10 cm (1–4 in) long. As they do not have access to ground water they are typically succulent to a certain degree which in many species shows as thick, fleshy leaves, which have a waxy surface and are sometimes rippled. They are adapted to living in small shady crevices on, for example, trees, with small root systems. Most species are compact and usually do not exceed 30 cm (12 in) in height.įirst are plants with decorative foliage, which often grow in rain or clouds forests as epiphytes. Peperomias vary considerably in appearance (see gallery below) and there is no universally accepted method of categorising them, although three main groups can be distinguished. argyreia being the “Watermelon Peperomia”, due to its leaf veining and shape resembling the look of a watermelon. Furthermore, many individuals simply refer to the many Peperomias by their individual nicknames, such as Peperomia polybotrya being called the “Raindrop Peperomia” (due to its large, drop-shaped leaves), or P. Bailey because many of them enjoy bright and dry environments similar to a windowsill above a radiator. They are sometimes called radiator plants, a name possibly coined by L.H. Peperomia plants do not have a widely- accepted common name, and some argue that it is better to use the genus name, as is the case with genera such as Petunia and Begonia. The genus name Peperomia was coined by Spanish botanists Ruiz López and Pavón Jiménez in 1794 after their travels in Perú and Chile. These roots, while delicate, also enable the plants to survive in less-than-ideal conditions however, their fragility also places them at a greater risk for root rot if water does not drain sufficiently quickly. Most of the Peperomias have minimal to virtually non-existent root systems (species-depending), with the entire mass often being nothing more than a collection of tiny, hair-like appendages used to anchor the plant. Many species will easily sunburn, preferring filtered or indirect, bright sunlight. Some Peperomias have thick, waxy, succulent leaves and stems still, others are rather delicate, with paper-thin leaves. Most species are compact perennial shrubs or vines. Some are epiphytes (growing on other plants) or lithophytes (growing on rock or in rock crevices), and many are xerophytes (drought-tolerant, with thick succulent structures to save water) or possess underground tubers ( geophytes). Peperomias have adapted to many different environments and their appearances vary greatly. The exact number of species is difficult to determine, as some plants have been recorded several times with different names, and new species continue to be discovered. They are concentrated in South and Central America, but may also be found in the southern North America, Caribbean islands, Africa, Oceania, and southern and eastern parts of Asia. It is estimated that there are at least over 1,000 species, occurring in all tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Peperomia is one of the two large genera of the family Piperaceae. Over 1,000, see List of Peperomia species
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |