Greenhouse tea plant, Pepper elder
Peperomia pellucida

Family: Piperaceae

What it is like

A herb. It grows 10-30 cm tall. It grows from seed each year. The stems are thick and rounded. They are pale green and fleshy. The leaves have stalks. These are 1-2 cm long. The leaf blades are 0.8-3.5 cm long by 0.6-2.8 cm wide. They are oval and shiny pale green. The base is heart shaped. The flowers are yellow. They are very small and borne on a light green spike. This is produced at the end of a branch or opposite the leaves. The nutlet is round and 0.5 mm across.

There are about 1000 Peperomia species. They are in the tropics and subtropics. It is also put in the family Peperomiaceae. This one may be the same as or confused with Peperomia exigua.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in warm regions. It occurs widely in the tropics. It grows in wet and shady places around houses. In Nepal it grows to about 2000 m altitude. It grows in rock crevices and near the base of cliffs. In China it grows from sea level to 200 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Africa, Amazon, American Samoa, Angola, Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Central Africa, Central America (country/location of origin), China, Chuuk, Congo DR, Cuba (country/location of origin), Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Ethiopia, Fiji, FSM, Guiana, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malawi, Malaysia, Mexico, Micronesia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Nigeria, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pantropical, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Pohnpei, Puerto Rico, Rotuma, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South America (country/location of origin), St Lucia, Sudan, Suriname, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The tender leaves and shoots are cooked and eaten as a vegetable. The harvested plant can be stored for 2-3 days.

It is a popular vegetable. It is sometimes sold in markets.

Edible parts

Leaves, leaves - tea, spice, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. It can also be grown by stem cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Bithe, Cang cua, Cao hu jiao, Clearweed, Kasang pak, Ketumpangan ayer, Krosang tiep, Latapate, Liha pambi, Lombaye lolitoko, Luchi pata, Luchi shak, Olasiman ihalas, Pak-kra-sank, Pakkrasung, Phak krasang, Punounuwa, Rangu-rangu, Sakauenleng, Sasaladaan, Sekewenleng, Shining bush, Silver bush, Sladanan, Suna-kosho, Suruhan, Thit-yay-gyi, Vao vai, Zaub qwj

Synonyms

Piper pellucidum L.; Piper exiguum Blume; Peperomia exigua (Blume) Miquel; Peperomia knoblicheriana Schott;