Ear-leafed pepper, Mexican pepper leaf
Piper auritium

Family: Piperaceae

What it is like

A herb or small tree. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 2-5 m tall. The stems are swollen at the nodes. It has large heart shaped leaves. They are 30 cm long. The sides at the base are unequal. The leaves taper to the tip and are softly hairy. The leaf stalk has wings. The leaves have an anise scent. The flowers are white. They are on erect, slender spikes. These droop at the ends. They are 15-28 cm long. This flower stalk is produced opposite a leaf. The fruit is small and fleshy.

There are between 1000-2000 Piper species. They are mostly in the tropics.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It suits seasonally moist, moderate rainfall. It can grow in an average, well-drained soil. It can grow in full sun or light shade. In Costa Rica it grows from sea level to about 1,700 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Belize, Caribbean, Central America (country/location of origin), Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guianas, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Micronesia, Nicaragua, North America, Pacific, Panama, South America (country/location of origin), Suriname, West Indies

How it is used for food

The leaves are used to flavour soups and other dishes. It has the smell and flavour of sarsaparilla. It is used to flavour wild game such as armadillo, freshwater snails and is wrapped around dough. CAUTION: Hoja santa oil contains saffrole which can cause cancer. It should therefore only be used in small amounts. The young leaves are sometimes cooked and eaten as greens.

It is a cultivated food plant. Leaves are sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Leaves, stem, leaves - tea, flower spikes - flavouring

How it is grown

It can spread by suckers. Seeds are also scattered by bats.

Its other names

Local names

Acuja, Acuyo, Aguiyu, Anisillo, Bullhoof pepper, Caisimon, Cordoncillo, Hierba santa, Hoja de estrella, Hoja de Santa Maria, Hoja Santa, Kauput, Makulan, Mexican pepper leaf, Root beer plant, Sacred pepper, Santamaria, Sika tara, Tlanepa, Ugudi bagasu, Vera Cruz pepper, Yerba santa

Synonyms

Artanthe aurita (Kunth) Miq.; Artanthe seemanniana Miq.; Piper alstonii Trel.; Piper auritilaminum Trel.; Piper auritilimbum Trel.; Piper auritum var. amplifolium C.DC.; Piper auritum var. seemannianum (Miq.) Trel.; Piper heraldi Trel.; Piper heraldi var. amplius Trel.; Piper heraldi var. cocleanum Trel.; Piper perlongipes Trel.; Piper rafaeli Trel.; Schilleria aurita (Kunth) Kunth;