Pouched pepper
Piper trichostachyon

Family: Piperaceae

What it is like

A stout woody climber. The leaves are 8-12 cm long by 3-6 cm wide. They are narrowly oval and taper to the tip. The leaf stalk is 1-2 cm long. The spikes are 10 cm long. They are stout and drooping. The bracts are fleshy and form into a fleshy cup. The fruit is a berry 6 mm long and wide. It is yellowish red.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in evergreen forests and moist deciduous forests. It occurs in the Western Ghats in India.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, India

How it is used for food

The unripe fruit are used as a spice. They are added to vegetables and preserved in pickles.

Edible parts

Fruit, spice

How it is grown

In south India is flowers and fruits March to April.

Its other names

Local names

Mirch

Synonyms

Muldera trichostachya Miq.;