Most species of Peperomia presents a water reservoir tissue on the adaxial surface of the leaf. This tissue can vary in thickness determining more or less succulence to the leaf. On purpose of determining the origin of important anatomic structures for this group, the present work describes the development of the water reservoir specialized tissue, as well as the stomata ontogenesis for P. catharinae Miquel, P. emarginella (Sw.) C.DC., P. quadrifolia (L.) Kunth and P. rotundifolia (L.) Kunth. Young leaves from the stem apex and the first node were observed in cross and paradermic sections. The techniques were the usual for light microscopy. All the species presented the water reservoir specialized tissue originated from periclinal divisions of protodermal cells. The stomata ontogenesis is mesoperigenous and it gives rise to anisocytic, tetracytic and staurocytic stomata.
Peperomia; multiple epidermis; stomata ontogenesis
