Peperomia alata

Peperomia alata, commonly known as the winged peperomia, is a species of plant in the genus Peperomia of the family Piperaceae. Its native range covers most of tropical and subtropical America, from southern North America through West Indies and Central America to South America.^[1] It can also be found in Florida, although there it is apparently rare, known for certain only from swamps in Collier County.^[2]

Winged peperomia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Magnoliids
Order:	Piperales
Family:	Piperaceae
Genus:	Peperomia
Species:	P. alata
Binomial name
Peperomia alata Ruiz & Pav.
Synonyms
List Micropiper alatum (Ruiz & Pav.) Miq. Piper alatum (Ruiz & Pav.) Vahl Peperomia laevis C.DC. Peperomia microreticulata Steyerm. Peperomia nilssonii Yunck. Peperomia pterocaulis Miq. Peperomia velloziana Miq.

Description

Peperomia alata is a perennial herb, erect or reclining, spreading by rhizomes. The epithet "alata," i.e., "winged," refers to wings that run the length of the stems, although this is rather obscure on some specimens. Leaves are 3-veined, elliptic to lanceolate, with blades up to 13 cm (5.2 inches) long. Flowers are born in tight spikes up to 13 cm (5.2 inches) long.^[3][4][5]