Piper politi Yunck.

  • Authority

    Maguire, Bassett & Wurdack, John J. 1957. The Botany of the Guiana Highland -- Part II. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 9 (3): 235-392.

  • Family

    Piperaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Piper politi Yunck.

  • Description

    Latin Diagnosis - Frutex diffusus vel scandens, internodiis superis glabris vel juvenilibus plus minusve hispidis; foliis lanceolato-ovatis ad late ovata, apice acuminatis, basi rotundatis obtusis cordulatis vel cordatis, fere totis vel tertium superum pinnatim venosis nerviis utrinque 3-5 sub margine laqueatis, supra glabris subtus glabris vel ad venas plus minusve hispidis; petiolo ad basim vaginato; spicis adhuc immaturis, bracteis rotundato-subpeltatis margine conferte luteo-fimbriatis.

    Species Description - A nodose, trailing or scandent shrub, climbing to 15 m or more, the upper internodes comparatively short, glabrous to moderately or strongly hispid in young growth. Leaves lance-ovate to broadly ovate, the apex acuminate, the base equilateral or one side about 1 mm shorter at the petiole, rounded, obtuse, cordulate, or cordate, 2.5-4.5 cm wide and 5.5-8 cm long, pinnately nerved to the upper third or nearly throughout, the midrib prominent beneath, the lateral nerves 3-5 on each side, rather slender, submarginally loop-connected and with crossconnecting-anastomosing nervules, glabrous and glossy above, glabrous to sparingly or sometimes rather strongly hispid beneath along the nerves, drying coriaceous, opaque, revolute, the petiole mostly 5-10 mm long, glabrous to moderately hispid, vaginate at the base. Spikes as yet immature, as represented about 2.5 cm long, the peduncle 5 mm long, the bracts round-subpeltate, densely yellow-fringed.

  • Discussion

    TYPE: VENEZUELA: Bolivar: Cerro Guaiquinima, Rio Paragua, locally frequent in dense "moss" woodland in deep narrow quebrada, "North" Valley, alt. 1600-1700 m, Jan. 4, 1952, Bassett Maguire 32968 (NY).

    The trailing or scandent habit of growth, leaf shape, type of indument, etc. characterize this species. There is no evidence that the ovaries or drupes would be stylose. The immature spikes make it impossible to determine with certainty its relationship with other species. It resembles P. hostmannianum (Miq.) CDC. to a slight extent but differs in its smaller leaves, shorter [?] spikes, and type of indument.

  • Distribution

    VENEZUELA: Amazonas: Cerro Sipapo (Paraque), on mixed forest slopes above lower escarpment above Carlo Grande, alt. 1500 m, Jan. 21, 1949, Bassett Maguire & Louis Politi 28516 (NY). Bolivar: Chimanta Massif, Torono-tepui, climbing attached to bluff base in sun, locally frequent, north-west-facing forested slopes between Summit Camp and base of escarpment, alt. 1880-1970 m, Feb. 27, 1955, stem dull green; lvs. subcoriaceous, dull green above, paler dull green below, peduncle dull green; spikes as

    Venezuela South America|