PIPERACEAE: CHARACTERISTICS, DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT, EXAMPLES - SCIENCE - 2025

Piperaceae is a family of tropical plants that comprises a group of perennial, shrub or arboreal plants, made up of approximately 2,000 species native to the humid and warm tropics. Native to South America and some regions of Malaysia, in America they are distributed in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Brazil and Venezuela.

They are characterized by being herbs, shrubs, trees, climbers or epiphytes that develop and grow in dark and humid places. The stem forms a network of tubular structures throughout the plant called the libero-woody system.

Peperomia caperata. Source: Lazaregagnidze

The simple and alternate leaves present a great variety of tones, being herbaceous or succulent of different shapes and sizes. These plants reproduce unisexually or hermaphroditically, developing terminal or axillary spike inflorescences with numerous tiny flowers.

The Piperáceae family is made up of 10-12 genera of botanical, agricultural and economic importance. Among the main ones are mentioned: Arctottonia, Macropiper, Manekia, Ottonia, Piper, Peperomia, Pothomorphe, Sarcorhachis, Trianaeopiper, Verhuellia and Zippelia.

Piperáceas are used as ornamental plants (Peperomia caperata and Peperomia glabella), medicinal plants (Peperomia aceroana, Piper dilatatum and Piper amalago). In addition, for the preparation of an artisan drink (Piper methysticum) and as a marinade or condiment in gastronomy (Piper nigrum).

characteristics

Peperomia glabella 'variegata'. Source: Jerzy Opioła

Structure

They are arboreal, shrub, herb or climbing plants, sometimes epiphytes, vines with numerous adventitious roots at the nodes. Pubescent surface, with simple or multicellular hairs, some glabrous; with small transparent or colored spherical glands.

The floriferous stems frequently have lateral bracteoles or prophylaxis on each side of the first terminal leaves. In addition to aromatic glands or electrocytes and with essential oils in different parts of the plant.

Stem

Some species have open woody bundles along the stem, lacking a sclerenchymal sheath. As well as tumescent nodes with various traces or traces of the leaves - extension of the vascular bundle that enters the leaf from the vascular system of the stem.

Leaves

Simple and whole leaves; alternate, opposite, basal, or spiral; herbaceous or succulent; petioles, of various shapes and sizes. The nervation presents a variety of distributions, anisocytic and tetracytic stomata, with hydatodes in species located in hydrophilic environments.

Inflorescences

Terminal inflorescences, axillary or opposite, in solid and succulent spikes, pedunculated, with greenish, pendant or rigid tones. Monoecious, dioecious or hermaphroditic plants.

flowers

Numerous very small flowers compactly located around a thick, sessile rachis. They are held by a bract inserted in the center with slightly fimbriated or fringed edges.

Fruit

The fruit is a berry or drupe, sometimes with showy styles. The seeds with a small embryo, abundant starchy perisperm and little endosperm.

Distribution and habitat

Originally from the tropical regions, it constitutes a pantropical family, that is, they are located in the tropical regions of the major continents: America, Africa and Asia. It is made up of about 2,000 recognized species, most of them located in the neotropics or tropical region of the American continent.

Piper methysticum. Source: Forest & Kim Starr

In South America there are -4 genera and 400 species in Ecuador- and in Argentina -2 genera and 30 species-. In Peru -3 genera and 830 species-, in Brazil -5 genera and 500 species- and in Colombia -4 genera and 2,500 species-

Various species of piperáceas are distinguishable elements of the understory and epiphytic strata of humid and shady areas in tropical forests. Other species are frequent in secondary forests, being scarce in dry and warm areas; they are located at sea level up to 3,200 meters above sea level.

Piperáceas have adapted to environmental conditions in the tropics and subtropics. They are located in the tropical forests, shady places, sometimes epiphytes, at other times as opportunists in areas cleared of grasslands or fallows.

Examples of

Piper acutifolium

Shrubs of 1-2 m with knotty stems, alternate and simple leaves, petiolate, pinnate veins, spike inflorescences and tiny greenish flowers. Called "matico" it is frequent in fallow land and bushes.

Piper aduncum. Source: João Medeiros

Piper barbatum

Bushy plants 1.5-2 m high, simple and opposite leaves, petiolate, cordate, spike inflorescences and small green flowers. It is commonly named as "matico", it is located in grasslands and bushes.

Piper hieronymi

Short shrub or herbaceous plant devoid of thorns -inerme- that reaches a height of up to 6 m. It is located in forests and humid jungles in the regions of Salta, Jujuy and Tucumán in northwestern Argentina and in Bolivia.

Piper lineatum

Straight shrub up to 2 m tall, simple and alternate leaves, petiolate, leathery, elliptical leaves, pedicle spike inflorescences and tiny greenish flowers. Commonly called "matico" it is located in scrub ecosystems.

Piper nigrum

Herbaceous perennial and climbing plant that reaches 4 m in length on different supports such as artificial or other plants. With alternate leaves and small flowers, its fruits -drupe- are obtained black and white pepper.

Black pepper comes from the immature fruits, dried in the sun and processed to obtain rough grains used as a garnish. White pepper is obtained from ripe berries, it is processed through a process of fermentation, maceration and drying.

Piper nigrum. Source: JMGarg

Piper perareolatum

Little tree sparsely branched, with simple or opposite leaves, with pedicle spike inflorescences. Commonly called "matico grande" it is located in humid misty forests.

Genre examples

Peperomia asperula

Small rigid herbs devoid of ramifications up to 15 cm high, alternate leaves grouped at the basal level, terminal inflorescences. They are located in stony or rocky areas.

Peperomia collinsii

Herbs frequently epiphytes fleshy and pubescent, sometimes terrestrial, with compact, succulent and rhizomatous stems, rigid 10-25 cm long. They are located in forests and very humid jungles at 1,000-1,800 meters above sea level, in southern Bolivia and northwestern Argentina.

Peperomia distachya

They are erect and rupicolous herbs that reach 30 cm in height. Alternate petiolate leaves, with rhomboid-shaped membranous lamina, terminal inflorescences. They are located in stony or rocky terrain.

Peperomia dolabriformis

It is a type of perennial herb with abundant ramifications, alternate, obovate, succulent, glabrous leaves, with terminal and branched inflorescences of 25-30 cm. They are frequent in stony or rocky terrain.

Peperomia dolabriformis. Source: scott.zona

Peperomia hispiduliformis

Epiphytic herbs sometimes terrestrial, annual cycle, light and thin, usually 6-12 cm tall, with alternate leaves. They are located in forests and rain forests of Bolivia and northwestern Argentina, specifically in the very humid forests of the Salta valley.

Peperomia obtusifolia

Creeping herbaceous plants up to 25 cm, with short rhizomes and abundant tussock. Alternate petiolate leaves, obovate, glabrous, apex obtuse, thick, axillary inflorescence 6-8 cm. It grows and develops on rocky areas.

Peperomia obtusifolia. Source: Proofsuit

Peperomia

Hemicryptophytic plant that has a reduced root and stem in a fleshy, spherical bulb. It is located in the Andean mountain range, from the Venezuelan moors to the Prepuna and La Rioja in Argentina, between 2,500-4,000 meters above sea level.

Peperomia santa-elisae

Herbaceous terrestrial plants with a fleshy, broad and high stem, pubescent, 30 cm long; leaves elliptical, membranous with veins on the upper surface. They are located in the north of Argentina and some regions of Paraguay.

References

1. Family: Piperaceae (2018) The Red Book of endemic plants of Ecuador. Secretary of Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation - PUCE. Recovered in: bioweb.bio
2. Novara, LJ (1998) Piperaceae CA Agadh. Botanical Contributions of Salta. MCNS Herbarium. Faculty of Natural Sciences. National University of Salta. Vol. 5, No. 1.
3. Montero Collazos, AY (2017) Phytochemical study of leaves of the plant species Piper catripense (Piperaceae) and evaluation of their antioxidant capacity. (Degree thesis) Francisco José de Caldas District University. Faculty of Sciences and Education. 75 pp.
4. Trujillo-C., W. & Callejas Posada, R. (2015) Piper andakiensis (Piperaceae) a new species from the Amazonian slope of the eastern mountain range of Colombia. Caldasia 37 (2): 261-269.
5. Piperaceae (2016) Wikipedia. The free encyclopedia. Recovered at: es.wikipedia.org