Piper avellanum C.Dc.

Shrub or subshrub to 2 m tall, densely short crisp-pubescent, hairs to 0.2 mm long. Petiole 0.3-1.3 cm long, vaginate to apex, often conspicuously winged, green or maroon; blade not conspicuously glandular-dotted, lance-elliptic or lanceolate-oblong or oblanceolate, 7-18 x 3-7.5 cm, margin ciliate, apex short-acuminate or acute, base unequally attached to petiole difference 0.1-0.5 cm, rounded, obtuse or subacute, glabrous or sparsely short-pubescent above, sparsely to densely so below; pinnately veined, secondary veins 5-6(-8) per side, originating from lower 3/4 of primary vein. Inflorescence pendent; peduncle slender, 0.5-1 cm long, pubescent; spike 3-5.5(-10) cm long, white, yellow or green, occasionally apiculate or not; rachis glabrous; floral bracts densely marginally fringed. Fruits trigonous or depressed globose, to 2 mm in diam., glabrous and papillose, stigmas 3, sessile.

Use: Sap of crushed leaves is said to be used against snake-bites in the NW district of Guyana (Van Andel, pers. comm.).