Piper nigrum

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Piper nigrum

Content

<<Inflorescences>Peduncle>Length

1-2.5 cm long1
1. 004-002-001

<<Inflorescences>Spikes>Length

5-10 cm long2
2. 004-003-001

<<Petiole>Blade>Apex

apex acute to short-acuminate,3
3. 003-002-004

<<Petiole>Blade>Base

base equal or almost equally attached to petiole, subacute to obtusish, glabrous;4
4. 003-002-005

<<Petiole>Blade>Dimensions

8-19 x 5-10 cm5
5. 003-002-003

<<Petiole>Blade>Shape

elliptic, ovate to broadly ovate6
6. 003-002-002

<<Petiole>Blade>Texture

not scabrous7
7. 003-002-001

<Fruits>Length

5-6 mm long8
8. 006-001

<Fruits>Stigma

stigmas 2-3, sessile.9
9. 006-002

<Inflorescences>Floral bracts

floral bracts glabrous.10
10. 004-004

<Inflorescences>Growth form

pendent11
11. 004-001

<Inflorescences>Peduncle

peduncle ;12
12. 004-002

<Inflorescences>Spikes

spike , apiculate or not;13
13. 004-003

<Infructescences>Length

12 cm long14
14. 005-001

<Infructescences>Thickness

0.5 cm thick15
15. 005-002

<Petiole>Blade

blade , not glandular-dotted, , ,16
16. 003-002

<Petiole>Length

1-2 cm long17
17. 003-001

<Petiole>Veins

palmately-pinnately veined, secondary veins 2-3 per side, originating from lower 1/4 of primary vein, flat to prominulous above, prominulous to prominent below, tertiary veins reticulate.18
18. 003-003

Common Name

English: pepper

Description

Shrub sometimes with scrambling branches or liana. Stem glabrous. Petiole 1-2 cm long, glabrous, vaginate to apex; blade not scabrous, not glandular-dotted, elliptic, ovate to broadly ovate, 8-19 x 5-10 cm, apex acute to short-acuminate, base equal or almost equally attached to petiole, subacute to obtusish, glabrous; palmately-pinnately veined, secondary veins 2-3 per side, originating from lower 1/4 of primary vein, flat to prominulous above, prominulous to prominent below, tertiary veins reticulate. Inflorescence pendent; peduncle 1-2.5 cm long; spike 5-10 cm long, apiculate or not; floral bracts glabrous. Infructescence pendent, 12 cm long, more than 0.5 cm thick. Fruits globose, 5-6 mm long, glabrous, red or black, stigmas 2-3, sessile.

Distribution

Southern America, W India present
Origin W India; cultivated in Brazil (introduced in 1930) and the West Indies; 10 collections studied (SU: 1; FG: 9).

Fruits

Fruits globose, , glabrous, red or black,19
19. 006

Habit

Shrub sometimes with scrambling branches or liana.20
20. 001

Individuals Association

Station de recherche de Paracou, Bordenave 63 between Kourou and Pariacabo, Sagot s.n. Suriname, UVS (Kaipoe) s.n. Abandoned dwelling, Lemée s.n.

Inflorescences

Inflorescence ;21
21. 004

Infructescences

Infructescence pendent, , more than .22
22. 005

Notes

Hardly any recent collections of pepper have been reported.
Two other spicy pipers are mentioned below. No collections have been reported. They are certainly known and used in the Guianas:
  • Piper betle L.
  • Piper cubeba L.f.

Petiole

Petiole , glabrous, vaginate to apex;23
23. 003

Stems

Stem glabrous.24
24. 002

Uses

Pepper is the most used spice in the world, although it contains several contents causing hypoglycaemic effects in humans. To obtain "black pepper" the unripe fruits are collected. During the drying proces its colour changes from green to black. To produce "white pepper" fruits are allowed to mature further, then soaked in (streaming) water. The mesocarp is then removed. In Suriname powder of pepper plus salt and lemon juice is said to alleviate coughs by East Indian people (Raghoenandan, Internal report BBS).