Mountain long pepper
Piper sylvaticum
Family: Piperaceae
What it is like
A climber. It has stolons or runners. The stems are ridged. They have fine hairs when young. The leaf stalks are 1-7 cm long. The leaf blade is oval and 8-11 cm long by 4-8 cm wide. The flower spikes are opposite the leaves. Male spikes are slender and 5-8 cm long. Female spikes are erect and 2-3 cm long by 3-4 mm wide. The fruit is fleshy, round and 3 mm across.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. In south China it grows in wet places at about 800 m above sea level. In Yunnan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Bangladesh, China, India, Indochina, Laos, Myanmar, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Tibet
How it is used for food
The fruit are used in food preparation. The leaves are eaten as a vegetable.
Edible parts
Fruit, spice, leaves
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Pahari pipul, Rari, Taw-kun