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Peperomia expallescens

C.DC. (1913)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Magnoliids Order: Piperales Family: Piperaceae Genus: Peperomia

‘ala‘ala wai nui [alaala wai nui]

Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Fleshy herbs.

Stems: Stems red, ascending to erect from a repent base, 20–50 cm long, ca. 2–3 mm in diameter toward base, dichotomously branched, internodes 1.5–8 cm long, densely hirsute, the hairs appressed and spreading, ca. 0.6–1.3 mm long, older stems glabrate.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Whorled (2)3–5 per node. Blades elliptic–obovate, rhombic–obovate, broadly elliptic, or sometimes suborbicular, 2–5 cm long, 1–2.5(–3.5) cm wide. Apex obtuse to rounded. Base cuneate or sometimes rounded. Upper surfaces hirsute, sometimes only toward base and along nerves, older leaves sometimes becoming glabrate; lower surfaces moderately hirtellous, green; lower surfaces paler, sometimes with red intercostal areas, drying somewhat coriaceous. Margins entire, usually somewhat revolute at least when dry. Palmately 3-veined or sometimes pinnately 5-veined. Petioles 0.5–3 cm long, hirsute. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers in fleshy spikes usually several, terminal or in uppermost leaf axils, 2.5–5 cm long, the rachis ca. 1.5 mm in diameter, glabrous, flowers moderately congested, peduncles 0.7–1.5 cm long, sparsely hirsute to glabrous or sometimes moderately hirsute toward base. Flowers bisexual (perfect), perianth absent. Each flower subtended by a peltate bract. Calyx (sepals) absent. Corolla (petals) absent. Stamens 2. Ovary superior, obovoid to turbinate, 1-carpellate, 1-celled; ovules 1 per cell, orthotropous, erect; stigmas terminal or slightly subterminal.

Fruit: Fruit obovoid to obovoid–turbinate; 1.2–1.5 mm long; papillose–viscid with sessile glands. Seeds 1 per fruit; with scanty endosperm and copious; starchy perisperm.

Ploidy: 2n = 66

Habitat: Wet forests.

Elevation Range: 1,160–1,740 m.

Historical Distribution

Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Endemic

Island Status

Molokai Endemic
Maui Endemic
Hawai'i Endemic

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Coll. Hawaii Publ. Bull. 2: 23 (1913)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:1025 (Mo, M)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Peperomia expallescens Kaapilopilo and Kapakahawai Gulches Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 1942 Maui BISH 1920-03-12
2 Peperomia expallescens Mts. above Puu Kolekole Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 160 Molokai BISH 1912-07-01
3 Peperomia expallescens Mts. above Puu Kolekole Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 161 Molokai BISH 1912-07-01
4 Peperomia expallescens Makawao, Haiku Uka, N slope Haleakala, upper Keanae Valley Preserved_Specimen Warshauer, F.R. 2815 Maui BISH 1980-07-14
5 Peperomia expallescens Kaapilopilo and Kapakahawai Gulches Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 1942 Maui BISH 1920-03-12
6 Peperomia expallescens Kaapilopilo and Kapakahawai Gulches Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 1942 Maui BISH 1920-03-12
7 Peperomia expallescens Waikolu, Pepeopae Preserved_Specimen Cranwell, L.M. 2576 Molokai BISH 1938-07-11
8 Peperomia expallescens Upper forest Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 586 Molokai BISH 1916-06-05
9 Peperomia expallescens West Maui, Puu Kukui Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 10380 Maui BISH 1910-07-01
10 Peperomia expallescens Ukulele Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 956 Maui BISH 1919-07-01
11 Peperomia expallescens Puu o Wahaula rain forest Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 8767 Molokai BISH 1928-04-17
12 Peperomia expallescens Between Wailau and Pelekunu Valleys, Olokui Plateau Preserved_Specimen Higashino, P.K. 9405 Molokai BISH 1980-08-02
13 Peperomia expallescens Kaapilopilo and Kapakahawai Gulches Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 1942 Maui BISH 1920-03-12
14 Peperomia expallescens Puu o Wahaula mossy rain forest Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 2758 Molokai BISH 1928-04-17
15 Peperomia expallescens Pepeopae moss-covered trunk of tree Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 2845 Molokai BISH 1928-04-23
16 Peperomia expallescens Between Waikolu Valley and N base of Puu Alii open rain forest Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 2761 Molokai BISH 1928-04-10
17 Peperomia expallescens Kawela, Puu o Kaeha rain forest Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 12463 Molokai BISH 1932-12-01
18 Peperomia expallescens head of Waikolu Valley, Hanalilolilo, rim of gulch wet ground, under Sadleria Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 12409 Molokai BISH 1932-12-01
19 Peperomia expallescens Wawaia, Kalapamoa Ridge wet ohia forest with other native trees and a treefern and native shrub understory Preserved_Specimen Stemmermann, R.L. 3874 Molokai BISH 1979-07-11
20 Peperomia expallescens Makawao, Haiku Uka, N slope Haleakala, upper Keanae Valley wet ohia forest with other native trees and a treefern and native shrub understory. Preserved_Specimen stems pubescent; leaves ovate-rhombate Warshauer, F.R. 2815 Maui BISH 1980-07-14
21 Peperomia expallescens Waikolu Valley, ridge between Hanalilolilo and Pepeopae wet forest Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 12572 Molokai BISH 1932-12-01
22 Peperomia expallescens Puaahala ahupuaa, Kalapamoa Ridge, below Kamoa helicopter landing zone; between Wawaia drainage basin and Keawanui. Vegetation: Metrosideros/Acacai Montane Mesic/Wet Forest. Preserved_Specimen Epiphytic on mossy Metrosideros; stems green. Oppenheimer, H.L. 51523 Molokai BISH 2015-05-19
23 Peperomia expallescens Kawela, Puu o Kaeha rain forest Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 12494 Molokai BISH 1932-12-01
24 Peperomia expallescens East Maui, Haleakala, Koolau Gap rain forest Preserved_Specimen epiphyte Wilbur, R.L. 970 Maui BISH 1948-07-02
25 Peperomia expallescens Between Wailau and Pelekunu Valleys, Olokui Plateau Tr 19(27) wet ohia forest with other native trees and a treefern and native shrub understory Preserved_Specimen Warshauer, F.R. 2967 Molokai BISH 1980-08-04
26 Peperomia expallescens Kawela, Puu o Kaeha rain forest Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 12492 Molokai BISH 1932-12-01
27 Peperomia expallescens East Maui, Koolau FR, Nahiku, Kuhiwa trail mossy trunk Preserved_Specimen leaves firm, green above, crimson beneath between veins St.John, H. 17952 Maui BISH 1937-01-02
28 Peperomia expallescens At edge of Pepeopae Bog In forest at edge of bog. Growing with Viola maviensis, Astelia forbesii, Schizaea, and Nertera in closed Metrosideros forest with Cheirodendron, Coprosma, Gouldia, and Vaccinium. Preserved_Specimen Small succlent herb. Davis, J. 828 Molokai BISH 1982-05-27
29 Peperomia expallescens Waikolu Valley, ridge between Hanalilolilo and Pepeopae wet forest Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 12566 Molokai BISH 1932-12-01
30 Peperomia expallescens Pepeopae on ground and fallen logs, dense shade Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 2730 Molokai BISH 1928-04-12
31 Peperomia expallescens West Maui, Puu Kukui summit wet forest Preserved_Specimen Cranwell, L.M. 2704 Maui BISH 1938-07-25
32 Peperomia expallescens Puu Kukui summit bogs 55% cover of Metrosideros polymorpha, ~25-50 cm height; shrubs of Argyroxiphium grayanum at 15% cover; Oreobolus furcatus at 5%; Coprosma ochracea, Leptecophylla tameiameiae, Vaccinium dentatum, Geranium hillebrandii, Lycopodiella cernua, Carex montis-eeka, Deschampsia nubigena, Dichanthelium cynodon, Dichanthelium hillebrandianum, Dichan Preserved_Specimen herb; stems decumbent to erect, red or green; leaves medium green, below white, spikes yellow green Wood, K.R. 11493 Maui BISH 2005-08-24
33 Peperomia expallescens Forest near Pepeopae, Kamakou Preserve Montane wet forest Preserved_Specimen Herb Hotchkiss, S. 5275 Molokai BISH 1991-08-13
34 Peperomia expallescens Puaahala ahupuaa, Kalapamoa Ridge, below Kamo's helicopter landing zone; between Wawaia drainage basin and Keawanui. Vegetation: Metrosideros/Acacia Montane Mesic /Wet Forest. Preserved_Specimen Epiphytic on mossy Metrosideros; stems green. Oppenheimer, H.L. 51522 Molokai BISH 2015-05-19
35 Peperomia expallescens Kawela, Hanolilolilo trail, Pepeopae wet ohia forest with other native trees and a treefern and native shrub understory Preserved_Specimen Warshauer, F.R. 2349 Molokai BISH 1979-06-22
36 Peperomia expallescens Between Wailau and Pelekunu Valleys, Olokui Plateau Tr 19(27) wet ohia forest with other native trees and a treefern and native shrub understory Preserved_Specimen Warshauer, F.R. 2967 Molokai BISH 1980-08-04
37 Peperomia expallescens Kona, Keauhou Preserved_Specimen Leaves green, lighter beneath. Judd Jr., A.F. 67 Hawaii BISH 1937-11-12
38 Peperomia expallescens Kamakou Preserve, Kawela Section, summit trail along Papaala Pali Epiphytic on log in closed `ohi`a cloud forest with understory of `olapa, kolea, alani, pilo, manono, and hapu`u. Preserved_Specimen Small herb. Cuddihy, L.W. 1125 Molokai BISH 1982-05-20
39 Peperomia expallescens USA, Hawaiian Islands, Maui, East Maui, TNC's Waikamoi Preserve, Maile trail, above pipeline trail, 5150, Aspect: NE. Preserved_Specimen Spike: 2-3 cm long, 2.5-3mm wide; Stem: 3-4mm thick, short pubescent, more so on young branches ; Leaves: glabrous on dorsal, short pubescent underside and on margins, very faintly red on interveinal, mostly green. Pezzillo, Z. 1155 Maui BISH 2025-05-07
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