Abstract
Peperomia daironii is described and illustrated as a new species of Peperomia subgenus Tildenia from the Guiana Shield of Colombia. It is a geophytic, rupicolous herb with a tuberous root that grows embedded in rock crevices on understory rocky outcrops in the surroundings of Caño Cristales, Caño Barro, and the Serranía de la Lindosa, in the basins of the Guayabero and Orinoco rivers, municipality of La Macarena, in the transition zone between the Orinoquia and Amazon regions. The new species resembles Peperomia klopfensteinii in its rupicolous habit and peltate leaves but differs in its diminutive size (4–8 cm tall), leaf blades with venation lighter than the lamina, and spadices up to three times longer than the petioles. Specimens of subgenus Tildenia from Colombia collected above 2600 m elevation in Cundinamarca and Boyacá have previously been identified as Peperomia peruviana. However, P. daironii, recorded below 300 m elevation, differs markedly in leaf blade morphology.
Se describe e ilustra Peperomia daironii como una nueva especie de Peperomia subgénero Tildenia del Escudo Guayanés de Colombia. Es una hierba geofítica, rupícola, con raíz tuberosa que crece incrustada en grietas rocosas en afloramientos rocosos del sotobosque en los alrededores de Caño Cristales, Caño Barro y la Serranía de la Lindosa, en las cuencas de los ríos Guayabero y Orinoco, municipio de La Macarena, en la zona de transición entre la Orinoquía y la Amazonía. La nueva especie se asemeja a Peperomia klopfensteinii en su hábito rupícola y hojas peltadas, pero difiere en su tamaño diminuto (4–8 cm de altura), láminas foliares con nervadura más clara que la lámina y espádices hasta tres veces más largos que los pecíolos. Los especímenes del subgénero Tildenia de Colombia, recolectados por encima de los 2600 m de altitud en Cundinamarca y Boyacá, se habían identificado previamente como Peperomia peruviana. Sin embargo, P. daironii, registrada por debajo de los 300 m de altitud, presenta una marcada diferencia en la morfología de la lámina foliar.
Palabras clave: Colombia, Orinoquia, Peperomias, especies rupicola, Serranía de la Macarena
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