Ban pipla
Piper peepuloides
Family: Piperaceae
What it is like
A woody climber. The leaves have stalks. The leaves are oval to sword shaped. They taper to the tip. The flowers are yellowish. The fruit is a berry. It is black when ripe.
There are between 1000-2000 Piper species. They are mostly in the tropics.
Where it is found
A subtropical plant. In Nepal it grows between 400-1500 m altitude. It grows on moist, shady ground.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, SE Asia
How it is used for food
The dried fruits are used to flavour vegetables and curries. The young shoots are also used in curry.
Edible parts
Fruit, shoots, spice
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seeds or root offshoots.
Its other names
Local names
Pipul shak, Ruk peepla