Peperomia nivalis

Peperomia nivalis is a species of plant in the genus Peperomia and is endemic to Peru. It is a compact, erect succulent herb with fleshy stems and thick leaves cuneate and U-shaped in cross-section which have epidermal windows on the top-side. The leaf color is bright green in the shady summer and reddish during dry, sunny seasons. Additionally, there are four other varieties and forms of Peperomia nivalis: Peperomia nivalis f. diminuta, Peperomia nivalis var. compacta, Peperomia nivalis var. lepadiphylla (also known as Peperomia pruinosifolia), and Peperomia nivalis var. sanmarcensis. These varieties share the same basic characteristics, but also feature different traits, for example the variety Peperomia nivalis lepadiphylla has trailing stems and shorter leaves that resemble peas or lentils. These plants are often kept as ornamental plants due to their drought tolerance and they need to be watered moderately when temperatures are high, but without water when temperatures are low. Peperomia nivalis and lepadiphylla are also used in Peruvian folk medicine. The thick leaves are crushed and a sap is made which can be used after roasting to treat otitis and conjunctivitis. Peperomia nivalis is a member of the Pepper family, together with black peppercorns, and its fruits and seeds have been found to have traveled a long distance, stuck to a bird's feet over 3000 miles, to a remote island in the Atlantic Ocean. They are also easy to propagate by leaves, making them simple to share with others.