TaxonomyMacropiperoideae is a first clade in
Piperaceae.
Plant theoryIn the
Plant theory Macropiperoideae is combine with the Potomorphe clade of the neotropical
Piperaceae.
MacropiperoideaeMacropiper was first described by Miquel. Most subsequent classifications recognized Macropiper at the genus or subgenus level. Molecular sequence data suggest that Macropiper is a distinctive clade within
Piperaceae.
Piper capense was regarded as the core member of Coccobryon.
Piper capense is probably part of the Macropiper clade.
Species: ± 10 species
Region: South Pacific Islands;
Piper capense from Africa.
Botany: shrubs, small trees; mostly dioecious.
Leaves: mostly ovate, palmately nerved, basally obtuse to deeply cordate; petioles are sheathing.
Inflorescences: axillary, umbellate, short, similar to Pothomorphe, tight, dense, forming banding patterns.
Flowers: loosely arranged in the inflorescences, associated with peltate floral bracts; dioecious.
Fruits: free, but in
Piper excelsum they are concrescent with the rachis.
Pothomorphe cladePothomorphe has long been considered a distinct genus of the
Piperaceae, receiving the names Lepianthes and Heckeria.
Species: ± 10 species
Region: Neotropics.
Botany: herbs or shrubs, self-supporting or climbing;
Piper marginatum complex: shrubs, erect or sarmentose.
Leaves: palmately nerved, except
Piper auritum pinnately; basally obtuse or cordate, but peltate in
Piper peltatum, sheathing petioles.
Inflorescence Pothomorphe and
Piper auritum: axillary, umbellate; tight, dense, forming banding patterns.
Flowers: 2 stamens.
Fruits: free and obovoid.