Flora of Dominica, Part 2 - Smithsonian Institution Libraries

178 F’IPERACEAE SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY
Peperomia nigropunctata
Peperomia nigropunctoto Miquel, 1843:188.-Howard, 1973a:389.
Peperomia ocuminoto sensu Grisebach, 1860:165, non Ruiz & Pav6n, nor
(Linnaeus) A.C. Candolle in Urban.
Peperomia nemormo A.C. Candolle in A.P. Candolle, 1869,16:415.
Plants glabrous, conspicuously black-punctate; leaves
mostly acuminate, venation palmate; the inflorescence regularly
2-branched, one larger and one smaller.
West Indies; common in Dominica in rainforests, 100-1140
m: Deux Branches (Hodge 3104,3426), Freshwater Lake area
(Gillis 8317, Hodge 1769, Lloyd 42, 931, Wasshausen &
Ayesu 340, Wilbur 7382), Hampstead (Lloyd 630), Jean (Ernst
I823), La Chaudiere (Hodge 3512), Lisdara (Hodge 422,423),
Morne Anglais (Hodge 418, 2242), Morne Plat Pays (Wilbur
7892), Pont Casse (Wilbur 8197), Roche d’Or (Wasshausen&
Ayemu 398), South Chiltern (Stern & Wasshausen 2503),
Springfield (Wilbur 76&5), Sylvania (Hodge 421), Syndicate
(Webster 13319, Whitefoord 3555,3611), Warner Estate (Ernst
1207).
This species may be regarded as I? myrtifolia. The materials
could be part of variable populations rather than truly distinct
species. Similar I? glabella, with pubescent stems and petioles,
has not yet been collected on Dominica.
Peperomia obtusifolia
Peperomio obturifolio (Linnaeus) Dietrich, 183 1,1:154.-Howard, 1973a:392.
Piper obturifoliwn Linnaeus, 1753:30.
Glabrous herbs, except for the usually hirtellous peduncles;
leaves elliptic to obovate, the fruit beak hooked.
Neotropics; in Dominica 500-600 m: Brush (Nicolson
2158), South Chiltern (Hodge 1558).
Peperomia pellucida
Peperomia pIIucida (Linnaeus) Kunth, 1816, 1:64.-Howard, 1973a:392.
Piper pellucidwn Linnaeus, 1753:30.
Z’herbe couresse.
Erect, pellucid herb; leaves broadly ovate to deltoid.
Pantropical weed; in Dominica in disturbed areas to 550 m:
Cabrits (Whitefoord 3574), Clarke Hall (Erst 1716), Delices
(Whitefoord 3689), Hatton Garden (Hodge 3068), Marigot
(Hodge 412), Point Carib (Wilbur 8005), Portsmouth (Hodge
411), Roseau (Ernst 2061, Hodge 394), Soufriere (Lloyd 416),
South Chiltem (Hodge 1526), Sylvania (Hodge 1129).
Adjanohoun et al. (1985159, pl. 125) reported medical uses.
Peperomia rotundifolia
Peperomio rotundifolio (Linnaeus) Kunth, 1816, 1:65.-Howard, 1973a:394.
Piper rotundifoliwn Linnaeus, 1753:30.
Chaud fle.
Neotropics (and Africa teste Adams); in Dominica 15-725
m: Bataka (Stehlt 6898), Carholm (Ernst I939), Cote d’Or
(Nicolson 2050, Deux Branches (Hodge 2974, 3464), Fond
Figues River (Erst lOlS), Hampstead (Lloyd 626), Holmwood
(Webster 13280), La Chaudiere (Hodge 3526), Milton (Hodge
2868), Mome Colla Anglais (Hodge 414, Il89), Rosalie
(Wilbur 7831). Soufriere (Lloyd 469), Syndicate (Wasshausen
& Ayensu 347, Whitefoord 3612), Trafalgar Falls (Burch 1392,
Gillis 8225, Hodge 2005).
The plant is boiled to make tea for colds (Honychurch,
1980:68). Adjanohoun et al. (1985159, pl. 126) reported
similar medical uses.
According to Howard (1973a:383), Imray 311 is P.
rotundijolia but was misdetermined and reported by Grisebach
(1860:164) as P. cordifolia, now regarded as endemic to
Jamaica.
Peperomia tenella
Peperomia ienelIo (Swartz) Dietrich. 183 1, 1:153.-Howard. 1973a:395.
Piper tenellwn Swartz, 1788:16.
Epiphytic herb; leaves to 8 mm wide, ciliate.
West Indies and northern South America; in Dominica in
rainforest to mossy forest 550-1400 m: Morne Anglais (Hodge
2284), Morne Diablotins (Webster 13374), Mome Nicholls
(Hodge 1930).
Peperomia tnfolia
Peperomio trifolio (Linnaeus) Dietrich, 1831,1:173.-Howard, 1973a:395.
Piper trifoliwn Linnaeus, 1753:30.
Peperomia ovolifolio W. Hooker, 1825,3, pl. 165.-Urban. 1920, 8:161.
Scandent, villous herb; leaves in whorls of 3 or opposite, to
2 cm long, ciliate.
Lesser Antilles; in rainforest 15-1000 m: Clarke Hall (Ernst
4715), Fond Pays (Hodge 2849), Springfield (Erst I841),
Sylvania (Hodge 415, 1178, Webster 13420, Wilbur 7716),
Syndicate (Ernst 1997), Trois Pitons (Lloyd 783).
Piper Linnaeus
Piper nigrum Linnaeus, the black pepper of commerce, has
been collected in the Roseau Botanic Gardens (Hodge 916,
Proctor 17525).
Piper sanctum (Miquel) Schlechter ex A.C. Candolle (as
Piper papantlense A.C. Candolle), a Central American species,
was sent to Kew by Imray in 1877 (see Howard, 1973a:407).
This introduced species has not been recollected in Dominica.
Hodge and Taylor (1957552) noted that all species of Piper
are called doctor bush, including the three most common
species, P. aequale, I? dilatatum, and I? dussii. The Caribs
consider the plants as charms and the leaves are rubbed on
bodies or used in ritual baths.