The Hall of Mothers
Peperomia perciliata- Also sold as Peperomia faegerlindii. This species typically grows as a small, bushy, or trailing plant. It often forms dense mats or clumps, making it popular as a ground cover or in hanging baskets. Higher humidity is recommended for this plant to flower and thrive. Native to Columbia and Panama it was first published in 1950.
Piper crocatum- This species is a striking ornamental plant in the pepper family (Piperaceae), known for its heart-shaped, dark green to purplish leaves with vivid pink or silver veining. Native to Peru and other parts of tropical South America, it thrives in humid, shaded rainforest environments. The species was first collected and described by Spanish botanists Hipólito Ruiz López and José Antonio Pavón during the Royal Botanical Expedition to the Viceroyalty of Peru and Chile in the late 18th century. It was officially published in 1798 in their landmark botanical work, Flora Peruviana et Chilensis. Unlike some other Piper species, Piper crocatum is primarily grown for ornamental purposes rather than culinary or medicinal use.
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This species is notable for the presence of cystoliths, which are microscopic, crystal-like structures composed primarily of calcium carbonate. These appear as tiny, rough deposits within specialized cells, often giving the leaves a slightly gritty texture when touched. In Piper crocatum, cystoliths are densely distributed across the leaf surface and can contribute to the plant's shimmering or speckled appearance under the light. They may also serve a protective function, deterring herbivores and helping to regulate light absorption in the tropical environments where the plant naturally grows.
Mediocalcar decoratum- This plant is a miniature, mat-forming orchid species native to the montane forests of New Guinea, thriving at elevations between 900 and 2,500 meters. It was first described by Dutch botanist André Schuiteman in 1989, with the formal publication appearing in Blumea (Volume 34, page 167). Although the species was likely first collected by C.E. Carr in 1935, he passed away before he could formally describe it.
This orchid is characterized by its tiny, bell-shaped flowers, typically bright orange with golden yellow tips, and its succulent, narrow leaves arranged in a single plane. They always remind me of candy corn.
