Acorn peperomia

Peperomia tetraphylla

''Peperomia tetraphylla'', known as the acorn peperomia or four-leaved peperomia, is a small plant in the Peperomia genus and the Piperaceae family that grows natively in tropical and subtropical regions around the world. Additionally in can found on the Easter Islands and Hawaii as introduced species.

''P. tetraphylla'' is an 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 highland and evergreen forests, often as an epiphyte on top of trees or falles logs, but can also be found on rocky knolls or among grass by river banks.

The specific epithet ''tetraphylla'' is from the Ancient Greek language, meaning "four leaves". 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.

Three varieties are known: ''P. tetraphylla'', ''Peperomia tetraphylla'' var. ''piedadeana'', and ''Peperomia tetraphylla'' var. ''tenera''.
Taxonomy
KingdomPlantae
DivisionAngiosperms
ClassEudicots
OrderPiperales
FamilyPiperaceae
GenusPeperomia
SpeciesP. tetraphylla
Photographed in
Peru