Four new taxa of Peperomia (Piperaceae) from San Marcos, northern Peru

A new species and three new varieties of Peperomia are described from the province of San Marcos, Peru. Peperomia strawii Sp. nov., first found by Hutchison in 1964 in La Libertad, resembles P. trollii P. C. Hutchison & W. Rauh, but is generally smaller and has distinct inflorescences and leaf-sections. Peperomia cereoides var. reducta var. nov. differs from the type variety in being shorter, basally branched, leaves are more lanceolate with a distinct petiole and dry vertically instead of horizontally. Peperomia hartwegiana var. minutifolia var. nov. differs in its smaller, regularly whorled leaves with more pubescence. Peperomia nivalis var. sanmarcensis var. nov. are taller plants, with decumbent stems forming dense clumps, with narrower leaves, reddish along the edges. It thrives in the shade of very dry woods, growing among tree roots.