Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Piperales Bercht. & J.Presl
Family
Piperaceae Giseke
Genus
Peperomia Ruiz & Pav.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Peperomia tetraphylla (G.Forst.) Hook. & Arn. (1832)
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Piper tetraphyllum G.Forst., Fl. Ins. Austr. 5 (1786)
  • = Peperomia novae-zealandiae Colenso, Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst. 27: 394 (1895)
 Description

Branched, spreading, succulent herb up to ± 2 dm. tall; branches pubescent at nodes. Lvs in whorls of 4–(3) or occ. opp., subsessile, 5–15 × 4–12 mm., rhomboid to suborbicular, fleshy ∞ ± coriac. when dry) dark green above, paler below, ± pubescent when young. Spikes terminal, axis pubescent, 2–4 cm. long; bract orbicular-peltate, subsessile. Ovary partly immersed in axis, ovoid, acute; stigma capitellate. Drupe ovoid, reddish, ± 1·5 mm. long.

[From: Allan (1961) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 1.]

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Non-endemic)
 Bibliography
Colenso, W. 1895: Phaenogams: A description of a few more newly-discovered indigenous plants; being a further contribution towards the making known the botany of New Zealand. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 27: 383–399.
de Lange, P.J.; Norton, D.A.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Hitchmough, R.; Townsend, A.J. 2009: Threatened and uncommon plants of New Zealand (2008 revision). New Zealand Journal of Botany 47: 61–96. [Naturally uncommon]
de Lange, P.J.; Norton, D.A.; Heenan, P.B.; Courtney, S.P.; Molloy, B.P.J.; Ogle, C.C.; Rance, B.D. 2004: Threatened and uncommon plants of New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 42(1): 45–76.
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Barkla J.W.; Courtney, S.P.; Champion, P.D.; Perrie, L.R.; Beadel, S.N.; Ford, K.A.; Breitwieser, I.; Schönberger, I.; Hindmarsh-Walls, R.; Heenan, P.B.; Ladley, K. 2018: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. No. 22. [Naturally Uncommon]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Champion, P.D.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Norton, D.A.; Hitchmough, R.A. 2013: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 3. Department of Conservation, Wellington. [Naturally Uncommon]
Forster, J.G.A. 1786: Florulae Insularum Australium Prodromus. Dietrich, Göttingen.