''Peperomia alata'', commonly known as the winged peperomia, is a species of plant in the
genus ''
Peperomia'' of the
family Piperaceae. Its native range covers most of
tropical and
subtropical
The subtropical zones or subtropics are geographical zone, geographical and Köppen climate classification, climate zones to the Northern Hemisphere, north and Southern Hemisphere, south of the tropics. Geographically part of the Geographical z ...
America, from southern
North America
North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...
through
West Indies and
Central America to
South America.
It can also be found in
Florida, although there it is apparently rare, known for certain only from swamps in
Collier County.
Description
''Peperomia alata'' is a perennial herb, erect or reclining, spreading by
rhizomes
In botany and dendrology, a rhizome (; , ) is a modified subterranean plant stem that sends out roots and shoots from its nodes. Rhizomes are also called creeping rootstalks or just rootstalks. Rhizomes develop from axillary buds and grow hori ...
. The epithet "''alata''," i.e., "winged," refers to wings that run the length of the stems, although this is rather obscure on some specimens. Leaves are 3-veined, elliptic to lanceolate, with blades up to 13 cm (5.2 inches) long. Flowers are born in tight
spikes up to 13 cm (5.2 inches) long.
Internet Peperomia Reference, Photo Gallery, Type Specimens
/ref>
References
{{Piperales-stub
alata
Flora of Florida
Flora of South America