Piper sylvaticum Roxb.

Species

Angiosperms > Piperales > Piperaceae > Piper

Characteristics

Climbers herbaceous, dioecious. Stolons present. Stems ridged and furrowed when dry, very finely powdery pubescent when young. Petiole 1-7 cm, very finely powdery pubescent; prophylls 1/2 as long as petioles or slightly longer; leaf blade usually ovate, those at apex of stem ovate-lanceolate, 8-11 × 4-8.5 cm, papery, densely glandular, glabrous except for densely finely powdery pubescent veins abaxially and sometimes base of midvein adaxially, base cordate, symmetric, apex acuminate; veins 7, apical pair arising 0.7-1.5 cm above base, others basal; reticulate veins large, conspicuous, veinlets ascending Spikes leaf-opposed. Male spikes slender, 5-8 cm; bracts orbicular, peltate. Stamens 4; filaments short; anthers reniform. Female spikes erect, 1.5-2.5 cm × 3-4 mm; peduncle 0.5-2 cm, very finely powdery pubescent; bracts orbicular, ± sessile, adaxially pubescent; rachis pubescent, ca. 1.5 mm in diam. Ovary globose, distinct; stigmas 2 or 3, ovate, apex acuminate. Drupe globose, ca. 3 mm in diam., inserted within excavations of rachis. Fl. Aug-Sep.
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A climber. It has stolons or runners. The stems are ridged. They have fine hairs when young. The leaf stalks are 1-7 cm long. The leaf blade is oval and 8-11 cm long by 4-8 cm wide. The flower spikes are opposite the leaves. Male spikes are slender and 5-8 cm long. Female spikes are erect and 2-3 cm long by 3-4 mm wide. The fruit is fleshy, round and 3 mm across.
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Growth form herb
Growth support climber
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Sexuality dioecy
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JanFebMar
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JulAugSep
OctNovDec
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Environment

A tropical plant. In south China it grows in wet places at about 800 m above sea level. In Yunnan.
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Hardiness (USDA) 8-12

Usage

The fruit are used in food preparation. The leaves are eaten as a vegetable.
Uses medicinal
Edible fruits leaves
Therapeutic use Diuretics (aerial part), Flatulence (fruit), Snake bites (root), Carminative (unspecified)
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Cultivation

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Distribution

Piper sylvaticum world distribution map, present in Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar, and Thailand

Identifiers

LSID urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:683634-1
WFO ID wfo-0001094337
COL ID 6VKLV
BDTFX ID -
INPN ID -
Wikipedia (EN) Link
Wikipedia (FR)

Synonyms

Chavica sylvatica Piper sylvaticum