Pepper

Scientific Name :

Piper nigrum L.

Synonym(s) :

Local/Common name(s) :

Kurumulaku, Pepper

Family :

Piperaceae

Habit :

Climber

Flowering/Fruiting Time :

July-March

Habitat :

Evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, also cultivated

Endemic :

No

Status (IUCN) :

Distribution :

Peninsular India and Sri Lanka, cultivated elsewhere

Nativity :

Indigenous

Uses :

Medicine

Description (Morphology) :

Glabrous climbers. Leaves simple, alternate, to 16 x 10 cm, ovate, acuminate at apex, acute, rounded or truncate at base, 7-nerved, nervules subparallel; petiole to 2.5 cm long. Spikes to 12 cm long, slender; peduncles to 2.5 cm long; bracts united forming a cup below the flower. Flowers closely placed; stamens 2. Drupes 5 mm across, globose, smooth, deep red; stigmas 3-5, recurved.