兰屿椒草 lan yu jiao cao

Peperomia kotoensis Yamamoto.

Herbs perennial, 3-9 cm high, most parts sparsely pilose. Stems with a few hairs. Petiole 3-9 mm; leaf blade obovate, orbicular, ovate-rhombic, or ovate, 1.2-2.5 × 1.2-1.5 cm, papery, base cuneate to rounded, apex rounded, margin sparsely hairy when young; veins 3. Spikes both terminal and from axils of apical leaves, sometimes up to 3 together, several per flowering shoot, to ca. 4 cm × 1 mm; peduncle to 1.1 cm; rachis to 3 cm; flowers sparse; bracts orbicular, ca. 0.5 mm wide. Filaments very short; anthers orbicular. Nutlet broadly ovoid, ca. 0.6 × 0.4 mm.

Wet, evergreen forests, on moss-covered rocks and trees; 300-400 m. Taiwan (Lan Yu opposite SE coast) [Philippines]