Peperomia tetraphylla

Peperomia tetraphylla, known as the acorn peperomia or four-leaved peperomia, is a small plant in the Piperaceae family that grows natively in tropical and subtropical regions around the world. It has been introduced to Easter Island.^[1]

Peperomia tetraphylla
Four-leaved Peperomia at Budderoo National Park, Australia
Fruiting spike of Peperomia tetraphylla
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Magnoliids
Order:	Piperales
Family:	Piperaceae
Genus:	Peperomia
Species:	P. tetraphylla
Binomial name
Peperomia tetraphylla (G.Forst.) Hook. & Arn.

P. tetraphylla is a low-growing herb with creeping stems, sometimes forming mats. The leaves are elliptic or round, growing in whorls of 3 to 4, typically green but might also be reddish on the underside. It grows in wet evergreen forests, often as an epiphyte on top of trees or fallen logs, but can also be found on rocky knolls or among grass by river banks.^[1]

The specific epithet tetraphylla is from the Ancient Greek language, meaning "four leaves".^[2] It was first described in 1832 by W.J. Hooker and G.A. Walker-Arnott after a coastal survey of South America under the command of Captain F.W. Beechey.^[1]

Three varieties are known: P. tetraphylla, Peperomia tetraphylla var. piedadeana, and Peperomia tetraphylla var. tenera.^[3]