Editing Peperomia (section)

==Peperomias and humans==
===Horticulture===
Peperomias are often grown for their ornamental [[foliage]] and many species are considered easy to grow in homes and [[greenhouse]]s. Several species have been given the [[Award of Garden Merit]] by the [[Royal Horticultural Society]].<ref name="RHS01">{{cite web |title=Award of Garden Merit (AGM) |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/trials-awards/award-of-garden-merit |website=The Royal Horticultural Society |access-date=19 May 2022}}</ref> Peperomias are considered non-toxic and are recommended for households with children or animals.<ref>{{cite web|publisher= American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals |title= Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List - Cats |url=https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/cats-plant-list |access-date=17 April 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Safe Plants For Early Childhood Services |url=https://aussiechildcarenetwork.com.au/articles/childcare-articles/safe-plants-for-early-childhood-services |website=Aussie Childcare Network |date=27 February 2021 |access-date=13 May 2022}}</ref>

Out of the 1,000+ ''Peperomia'' species, currently only about 40 of them are commonly used as [[houseplant]]s. These peperomias fare well in average home conditions and can relatively easily be found in stores and [[Garden centre|garden centers]]. Species in this basic group include ''[[Peperomia alata|P. alata]]'', ''[[Peperomia albovittata|P. albovittata]]'', ''[[Peperomia argyreia|P. argyreia]]'', ''[[Peperomia blanda|P. blanda]]'', ''[[Peperomia boivinii|P. boivinii]]'', ''[[Peperomia caperata|P. caperata]]'', ''[[Peperomia clusiifolia|P. clusiifolia]]'', ''[[Peperomia columella|P. columella]]'', ''[[Peperomia dolabriformis|P. dolabriformis]]'', ''[[Peperomia ferreyrae|P. ferreyrae]]'', ''[[Peperomia fraseri|P. fraseri]]'', ''[[Peperomia glabella|P. glabella]]'', ''[[Peperomia graveolens|P. graveolens]]'', ''[[Peperomia griseoargentea|P. griseoargentea]]'', ''[[Peperomia hoffmannii|P. hoffmannii]]'', ''[[Peperomia incana|P. incana]]'', ''[[Peperomia japonica|P. japonica]]'', ''[[Peperomia kimnachii|P. kimnachii]]'', ''[[Peperomia maculosa|P. maculosa]]'', ''[[Peperomia metallica|P. metallica]]'', ''[[Peperomia nitida|P. nitida]]'' (often sold as ''P. scandens''), ''[[Peperomia nivalis|P. nivalis]]'', ''[[Peperomia obtusifolia|P. obtusifolia]]'', ''[[Peperomia pellucida|P. pellucida]]'', ''[[Peperomia perciliata|P. perciliata]]'', ''[[Peperomia pereskiifolia|P. pereskiifolia]]'', ''[[Peperomia polybotrya|P. polybotrya]]'', ''[[Peperomia prostrata|P. prostrata]]'', ''[[Peperomia quadrangularis|P. quadrangularis]]'' (syn. ''P. angulata''), ''[[Peperomia rotundifolia|P. rotundifolia]]'', ''[[Peperomia rugosa|P. rugosa]]'', ''[[Peperomia tetragona|P. tetragona]]'' (syn. ''P. puteolata''), ''[[Peperomia tetraphylla|P. tetraphylla]]'', ''[[Peperomia turboensis|P. turboensis]]'', ''[[Peperomia urocarpa|P. urocarpa]]'', ''[[Peperomia verschaffeltii|P. verschaffeltii]]'', ''[[Peperomia verticillata|P. verticillata]]'' (syn. ''P. rubella''), and ''[[Peperomia wheeleri|P. wheeleri]]''.

There can be, however, several cultivars available from each species. Identifying species can be challenging as plants are often sold under marketing names, older synonyms, or under names that have not been officially accepted. This is the case, for example, with ''[[Peperomia orba]]'' (often sold as ''Peperomia'' 'Pixie'), ''Peperomia viridis'', and ''Peperomia axillaris''. In addition to natural species and their cultivars, some artificial hybrid varieties can also be found on the market, such as ''Peperomia'' 'Hope' (a cross between ''[[Peperomia deppeana|P. deppeana]]'' and ''[[Peperomia quadrifolia|P. quadrifolia]]'').<ref>{{cite web |title=Peperomia 'Hope' |url=https://worldofsucculents.com/peperomia-hope/ |website=World of Succulents |date=9 May 2019 |access-date=5 July 2022}}</ref>

Most species need airy, well-draining substrate and want to dry out to some extent or even completely between waterings. A typical reason for losing a peperomia is through root rot caused by over-watering.<ref name="Mathieu" /> The tropical, decorative foliage plants, typically enjoy shadier conditions with more humidity. Some might even require a [[terrarium]] or a [[bottle garden]] to maintain high humidity. The arid climate succulent types should be treated similarly to [[Cactus|cacti]] and other [[Succulent plant|succulents]]: they can tolerate more light and will survive a dry cold period, during which they are watered only seldomly. The geophytic peperomias are used to experiencing a cold resting period once a year.<ref name="Mathieu" />

===Food and medicine===
Many peperomias are [[herb]]s in the sense that their leaves carry a spicy flavour and, when crushed, emit a strong odour. Therefore, some species, such as ''[[Peperomia pellucida]]'' are used in salads and cooking, or to flavour drinks.<ref>{{cite web |title=Peperomia |url=https://www.eattheweeds.com/peperomia/ |website=Eat The Weeds |date=4 August 2012 |access-date=13 May 2022}}</ref><ref name="Heiser" /> But it is advised that people should not try to eat the peperomias sold as houseplants.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dei |first1=Laure |title=Ask A Master Gardener – Peperomia: An Easy Growing Houseplant |url=https://dodge.extension.wisc.edu/2022/01/ask-a-master-gardener-peperomia-an-easy-growing-houseplant/ |access-date=13 May 2022 |website=University of Wisconsin-Madison|date=31 January 2022 }}</ref>

Some species, including ''[[Peperomia inaequalifolia]]''{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}}'','' ''[[Peperomia congona]]''<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Pino |first=Guillermo |date=April 2010 |title=Alte und neue Namen der sukkulenten Arznei-Peperomias aus Peru |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/309179552 |journal=Avonia |language=German}}</ref> and ''Peperomia pellucida<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Alves |first1=Nayara Sabrina F. |last2=Setzer |first2=William N. |last3=da Silva |first3=Joyce Kelly R. |date=2019-03-25 |title=The chemistry and biological activities of Peperomia pellucida (Piperaceae): A critical review |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30562552/ |journal=Journal of Ethnopharmacology |volume=232 |pages=90–102 |doi=10.1016/j.jep.2018.12.021 |issn=1872-7573 |pmid=30562552}}</ref>'', are also used in [[herbal medicine]] for various health conditions. 
While such [[folk medicine]] usage is common in Peru and elsewhere, the possible medicinal qualities of peperomias remain poorly investigated, although there has been a growing interest for the subject recently.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Gutierrez |first1=Y. |last2=Yamaguchi |first2=L. |last3=de Moraes |first3=M. |last4=Jeffrey |first4=C. |last5=Kato |first5=M. |title=Natural products from Peperomia: occurrence, biogenesis and bioactivity |journal=Phytochemistry Reviews |date=2016 |volume=15 |issue=6 |pages=1009–1033 |doi=10.1007/s11101-016-9461-5|bibcode=2016PChRv..15.1009G }}</ref>