Peperomia steyermarkii is a species of lithophyte in the genus Peperomia that is endemic in Venezuela. It grows on wet tropical biomes. Its conservation status is Threatened.
The first specimens where collected in Monagas, Venezuela.
Peperomia steyermarkii is a tiny, delicate herb that grows in compact tufts, reaching only 3âÂÂ4 mm in thickness on its tuber-like stem. It features fleshy, almost translucent leaves that are round and shield-shaped, measuring just 8âÂÂ10 mm across. The leaves attach to the stem 2âÂÂ4 mm in from the margin, and each bears a distinctive pale green spot at the center where five, interconnecting veins radiate outward. The upper surface is deep green with purplish suffusion around that central spot, while the underside appears silvery pale green or tinged with soft lavender. The thread-like leaf stalks are exceptionally slender, stretching up to 3.5 cm long and appearing pale greenish-white when fresh. The narrow, flower spikes are 1 mm thick and 15âÂÂ20 mm long when dry, carried on stalks 2âÂÂ2.5 cm long that often blush an attractive rose-lilac color during growth; occasionally a small leaf appears about 1 cm below the spike. The bracts are round and shield-shaped. The plant bears small, warty black fruits shaped like globes, about 0.8 mm long, each topped with a short, awl-shaped style and an apical stigma.
The combination of its extremely small size, the characteristic pale central spot on the leaves with radiating veins, the subtranslucent quality of the foliage, and the distinctive rose-lilac coloration of the flowering stalks set it apart from other Peperomia species.
It was described in 1951 by Truman G. Yuncker in ', from specimens collected by Julian Alfred Steyermark. It got its name from botanist who collected the first specimen, who was Julian Alfred Steyermark.
It is endemic in Venezuela. It grows on a epiphyte environment and is a herb. It grows on wet tropical biomes.
This species is assessed as Threatened, in a preliminary report.