Piper longum L.

Climbers to several m long, dioecious; many parts very finely powdery pubescent when young. Stems often flexuous. Petiole 0-9 cm, leaves toward base of stem long petiolate, those at apex of stem sometimes nearly sessile and clasping, very finely powdery pubescent; prophyll ca. 1/3 as long as petiole; leaf blades toward base of stem ovate to ± reniform, those at apex of stem ovate to ovate-oblong, 6-12 × 3-12 cm, papery, densely glandular, base cordate, basal lobes rounded and equal, slightly incurved, leaf blades toward apex of stem sometimes with basal lobes overlapping, slightly unequal, apex acute to acuminate; veins 7, apical pair partly closely parallel to midvein, reaching leaf apex, others basal; reticulate veins lax. Spikes leaf-opposed, recurved. Male spikes 4-5 cm × ca. 3 mm; peduncle 2-3 cm; bracts suborbicular, sometimes slightly cuneate, ca. 1.5 mm wide, peltate, glabrous, stalk short. Stamens 2; filaments very short; anthers ellipsoid. Female spikes (1-) 1.5-2.5 cm × 2.5-4 mm, 2-3 cm in fruit; peduncle and rachis as in male spikes; bracts 0.9-1 mm in diam. Ovary ovoid, partly connate to rachis; stigmas 3, ovoid, apex acute. Drupe globose, ca. 2 mm in diam., apex umbonate, partly connate to rachis. Fl. Jul-Oct.

A tropical and subtropical plant. In Nepal it grows to about 800 m altitude. In China it grows at about 600 m altitude in Yunnan. It is cultivated in other provinces in the south. In XTBG Yunnan.

The fruit are used as flavouring. They are berries which are dried and used as a spice. They are added to curries and pickles. The young fruit are eaten raw. The leaves are eaten raw, fried with meat or used in soups.

Plants are grown from seed or root offshoots. Seeds are slow to germinate taking 30 days. Plants can be grown from cutting runner shoots. These should be 15-22 cm long with 2-3 nodes. These can be put in a nursery and transplanted after 3-4 months. It is best in shade. A spacing of 1.5 m is suitable.