THREE NEW SPECIES OF PIPER ( PIPERACEAE ) FROM THE GUIANAS

The plant family Piperaceae occurs in the neotropics from Mexico through Central America and the West Indies to South America. The family is well represented in the Guianas by the genera Peperomia (29 species) and Piper (58 species). Some species are restricted to the Guianas or even to only one of the three geographical entities (11 pipers and 4 peperomias). In the process of preparing a treatment of the family for the Flora of the Guianas project several Piper collections could not be identified. They represent three new species, which are published and illustrated here.


INTRODUCTION
The plant family Piperaceae occurs in the neotropics from Mexico through Central America and the West Indies to South America.The family is well represented in the Guianas by the genera Peperomia (29 species) and Piper (58 species).Some species are restricted to the Guianas or even to only one of the three geographical entities (11 pipers and 4 peperomias).In the process of preparing a treatment of the family for the Flora of the Guianas project several Piper collections could not be identified.They represent three new species, which are published and illustrated here.Callejas, Piperi bartlingiano (Miq.)C.DC. similis sed differt inflorescentiis 0.5 -4.5 cm (nec 7-16 cm) longis, pedunculis puberulis (nec glabris), floribus congestis (nec dispersis), seminibus globosis, 3-3.5 mm diam.(nec obovoideis, 2-3 mm longis).-Typus: Mori & Pennington 18087, French Guiana, near Saül, la Fumée Mt (holo NY).
Notes -Piper remotinervium is easily distinguished from other taxa in the genus by the combination of trigonous hirsute fruits, floral bracts with a short hirsute fimbriate margin, the uppermost pair of veins arising below the mid portion of the leaf and the presence of erect, rigid trichomes on both sides of the leaf.It should be noted that in some specimens the trichomes on the leaf lower surface tend to have different lengths (e.g.De Granville et al. 13926).
The specimens here assigned to P. remotinervium previously had erroneously been identified as P. tectonifolium (Kunth) C.DC.However, the latter species is endemic to the Atlantic forests of northern South America, where it grows in open non-flooded areas or forest margins.
The name remotinervium means 'veins far apart', which is characteristic for the species.

Fig. 2 .
Fig. 2. Piper ciliomarginatum Görts & Christenh.a. Apex of branch with leaf, withering prophyll and young spike; b, c. showing variation in leaf shape; d. detail of leaf margin; e. detail of spike showing floral bracts and young fruits with persistent stigmas; f. young fruit; g. tip of young branch showing leaf base, prophyll and developing spike (a, b, g: Henkel 2231; c, d, f: Henkel 2166; e: Henkel 2185).Drawn by H. Rypkema, U.

Fig. 3 .
Fig. 3. Piper remotinervium Görts.a. Apex of branch with leaf, developing young branch tip, prophyll and immature spike; b. indument on leaf surface; c. apiculate tip of spike; d. fruit as seen in dried collection; e. fruit with persistent stigmas and remnants of stamens; f. detail of spike showing young anthers; g. detail of spike with open anthers between fimbriate floral bracts; h.apex of young branch showing leaf base, developing tip of branch and prophyll (2× natural size) (a-c: Feuillet 530; d: De Granville 4444; e: De Granville 13110; f. g: McDowell 2225; h: Cremers 15083).Drawn by H. Rypkema, U.