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| Peperomia calcicola Marcusso, in Marcusso, de Melo & Lombardi. 2020. |
Abstract
Peperomia calcicola is here described as a new species from the Atlantic Forest of São Paulo state, southeastern Brazil. The species was found on limestone outcrops in the understory of rainforest in the Alto Ribeira State Tourist Park (PETAR). It is characterized by the unique combination of pilose to pubescent stems and leaves, the leaves 7–9-nerved, slightly discolorous, ovate to large lanceolate blades with acute apex and cordate to rounded base, and the spadix of 0.5–1.7 cm long. Here we present description, color photos, and taxonomic comparisons with the morphologically close taxa.
Keywords: Alto Ribeira State Tourist Park (PETAR), Multipalmata, Neotropical Region, Piperales, seed plants, Magnoliids
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| Holotypus of Peperomia calcicola Marcusso. (from G.M. Marcusso et al. 1720, HRCB). |
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| Peperomia calcicola Marcusso. A. Habit erect-caespitose. B. Detail of the abaxial leaf surface, showing the whitish green abaxial side, and dark green adaxial side. C. Detail of the spike showing the rachis green with floral bracts green, withe stamens, and green pistils with white stigma. (from G.M. Marcusso et al. 1720; photos by Gabriel Mendes Marcusso). |
Peperomia calcicola Marcusso, sp. nov.
Distribution and habitat:―Known only from the type locality, in Apiaí municipality, São Paulo state, southeastern Brazil. The population recorded is located within the Alto Ribeira State Tourist Park (PETAR), on limestone outcrops in rainforest, in the Atlantic Forest Domain.
Etymology:—The specific epithet calcicola refers to the rocky limestone outcrops where this species grows.
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| Peperomia calcicola habitat. A. View of the limestone outcrops where P. calcicola occurs in Alto Ribeira State Tourist Park (PETAR), São Paulo state, southeastern Brazil, covered by rainforest. B. View of the cave where P. calcicola grows. photos by Gabriel Mendes Marcusso |
Gabriel Mendes Marcusso, Pablo Hendrigo Alves de Melo and Julio Antonio Lombardi. 2020. Peperomia calcicola (Piperaceae), A New Species from Limestone Outcrops of the southeastern Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Phytotaxa. 446(4).4; 245-252. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.446.4.5
