The type specimen where collected in
Popayán, Colombia.
Peperomia hirtellicaulis is a rather small, stoloniferous-ascending herb with
stems 1–2 mm thick, branches ascending up to 8 cm or more from a prostrate, rooting base. The internodes are very short above, 1–3 cm long below, and densely covered with minute fine hairs. The opposite
leaves are elliptic, measuring 7–11 mm wide by 15–22 mm long, with apex obtuse or somewhat acute and base acute. They are velvety-fine-hairy on both sides, more densely so beneath, palmately 3-nerved with the lateral nerves rather inconspicuous, drying dark and somewhat opaque. The
petiole is 1–5 mm long, fine-hairy, and channelled above. The terminal and axillary
spikes are young at the time of description, 1 mm thick by 2 cm long, on short, fine-hairy
peduncles. The
bracts are round-peltate. The
ovary was immature. The combination of its small stature with densely fine-hairy stems and the short spikes characterize this species. Evidence from the young ovaries suggests they have an oblique apex with subapical stigma. It appears most closely related to
P. fendleriana from which it differs in its smaller plants, smaller leaves, and shorter peduncles. ==Taxonomy and naming==