Long pepper, Indian long pepper
Piper longum

Family: Piperaceae

What it is like

A twining herb. It can be several metres long. It is creeping or climbing and forms roots below. The leaves often have small hairs. The branches are smooth. The leaves have stalks. The leaf blade is 3-12 cm long by 2-12 cm wide. They are broadly oval to heart shaped. They taper to a short tip. The lower leaves have long stalks. The upper leaves do not have stalks and clasp the stem. There are usually 5 veins at the base. The flowers are green. They are opposite the leaves. The male spike is 5.5 cm long and 3 mm wide. The female spike is 1.5-1.5 cm long and 2.5-4 mm wide. The fruit is a berry. The berries stick to the axis or central stalk.

There are between 1000-2000 Piper species. They are mostly in the tropics. It is used in medicine. It has anticancer properties.

Where it is found

A tropical and subtropical plant. In Nepal it grows to about 800 m altitude. In China it grows at about 600 m altitude in Yunnan. It is cultivated in other provinces in the south. In XTBG Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Andamans, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Philippines, SE Asia, Sikkim, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The fruit are used as flavouring. They are berries which are dried and used as a spice. They are added to curries and pickles. The young fruit are eaten raw. The leaves are eaten raw, fried with meat or used in soups.

It is a cultivated food plant. It is sold in markets.

Edible parts

Fruit, herb, spice, leaves

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed or root offshoots. Seeds are slow to germinate taking 30 days. Plants can be grown from cutting runner shoots. These should be 15-22 cm long with 2-3 nodes. These can be put in a nursery and transplanted after 3-4 months. It is best in shade. A spacing of 1.5 m is suitable.

Plants produce after 3-4 years.

Its other names

Local names

Bi ba, Bithipokang, Fanfeuwali, Hippali, Jaborandi pepper, Janli pan, Kandan, Lahare pan, Likadu, Magadhi, Nallamulagu, Nga-yok-kaung, Paik-chin, Peepla, Peli ja, Phrik haang, Pimpli, Pimpoli, Pipal, Pipala, Pipali, Pipla, Piplamor, Piplamul, Pipli, Pipoli, Pippali, Pippili, Pippuloo, Pipul, Punthong, Singmalta, Siramulam, Tieu dai, Tieu lot, Tippili, Tieu dai

Synonyms

Chavica roxburghii Miquel; According to PROSEA Piper longum does not occur in Malesia and has been confused with P. sarmentosa