Betel Leaf, Wild Betel
Piper sarmentosum

Family: Piperaceae

What it is like

Betel leaf (Piper sarmentosum) is a perennial climber of the family Piperaceae, which includes Black pepper (Piper nigrum) and kava kava (Piper methysticum). Not to be confused with Betel (Piper betle), a completely different plant with different uses to Betel leaf. It grows to 10m long, though stems tend to creep along the ground with off-shoots to 0.5m high. Betel leaf is an excellent evergreen understorey plant in woodlands providing groundcover in shady locations. Leaves have a nice peppery flavour and are eaten raw or cooked. They are delicious in salads or added to curries or blanched and used as a potherb. Larger leaves are lightly steamed and used as wraps for vegetables.

Piper sarmentosum is an evergreen Perennial Climber growing to 10 m (32ft) by 0.2 m (0ft 8in) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Insects. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) or semi-shade (light woodland). It prefers moist or wet soil.

Height (m): 10

Where it is found

Forests or wet places near villages from near sea level to 1,000 metres . Edges of semi-evergreen type forests at or near sea level in the Andamans .

E. Asia - China. India, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines.

Conservation Status: Not Listed.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Cambodia, China, East Timor, India, Indochina, Indonesia (native), Laos, Malaysia, Marquesas, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam.

How it is used

Food

Rating: 3

Leaves are eaten raw or cooked . A nice peppery flavour, they are delicious chopped up into salads . The leaves can also be added to curries or blanched and used as a potherb . Larger leaves can be up to 10cm across, and these can be lightly steamed and then used as wraps for vegetables etc. . In Thailand, the leaf wraps are a favourite snack, 'mieng kum', with fillings of peanuts, shrimps, shallots with lime and raw ginger. The dried infructescence is occasionally used as a spice . Soaking the leaves in cold water with a bit of sugar for two hours before use subtly alters the flavour. Leaves make a tea.

Condiment: the various plants that are used as flavourings, either as herbs, spices or condiments.

Tea: the various herb teas that can be used in place of tea, plus the genuine article.

Medicine

Rating: 2

The whole plant is anodyne, anti-inflammatory and expectorant. It is used to cure skin diseases, rheumatism, ostealgia, lumbago, oedema, headache, dyspepsia, colic, nausea, diarrhoea and toothache . It is used in combination with other plants for treating mushroom poisoning and snakebite . The whole plant, preferably harvested when in flower, is dried and stored. The leaf is carminative.

Anodyne: Relieves pain, it is milder than an analgesic.

Antibilious: Corrects the secretions of bile.

Antidiarrhoeal: Provides symptomatic relief for diarrhoea. Also see Astringent.

Antiinflammatory: Reduces inflammation of joints, injuries etc.

Antirheumatic: Treats rheumatism.

Carminative: Reduces flatulence and expels gas from the intestines.

Expectorant: Clears phlegm from the chest by inducing coughing.

Odontalgic: Treats toothache (temporary measure only) and other problems of the teeth and gums.

Other

Rating: 2

Grows well as an understorey shrub in woodlands . Other Uses: Hanging basket or large pot. Groundcover. Suitable as Annual.

Houseplant: A plant grown indoors for decorative purposes.

Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.

Ground Cover: Ground Cover

How it is grown

It prefers rich, well-drained soil with partial shade but can tolerate full shade. It likes moist soil but does not tolerate waterlogging. Frost will damage the leaves but not kill the plant once it is well established. The plant can be invasive, so it needs to be given space to roam - it does well as an understorey plant in a woodland . It makes a good ground cover under trees in subtropical and tropical areas. It thrives in the right position and can be difficult to remove because of its suckering habit. It can be grown successfully in colder regions in a hanging basket or large pot and moved to a warm, sheltered position in winter. The stems can be up to 10 metres long, though they tend to creep along the ground with off-shoots to 0.5m . A dioecious plant, both male and female forms need to be grown if seed is required . It grows in forests in wet places near villages and from sea level to 1000 m altitude in S China. In Hawaii, it is grown under shade cloth. Dry winds turn the leaves brown, spoiling their appearance.

Propagating it: Seed. Easy to propagate from cuttings.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Perennial Climber

Hardiness: 9-12

Growth: Medium

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Full shade, semi-shade

Moisture: Moist, wet

Things to keep in mind

The plant can be invasive.

Its other names

Local names

Lolot pepper, Vegetable pepper, Aimanas ai leten, 'i: le:d, Bo la lot, Cabean, Cha phlu, Cha plu, Chabai, Chaphlu, Chhiplou, Chi phlu, Chiaobiouluo, Daun kadok, Jia ju, Julo, Japloo, Jeeploo, Kadok batu, Karuk, l(oos)t tat ph(aws)t, La lot, Lot, Morech ansai, Nom wa, Pa dan, Pake, Pak ereart, Patai-butu, Phak i leut, Phak ee lert, Phak nang lert, Phlu ling, Poivre lolot, Sirih tanah, Tat bat, Ti(ee)u.

Synonyms

P. albispicum C. DC. P. baronii C. DC. P. brevicaule C. DC. P. lolot C. DC. P. pierrei C. DC. P. saigonense C. DC.