Peperomia pellucida
(Linnaeus) H.B. et Kunth
Greenhouse tea plant, Pepper elder
(c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman
(c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman
What to Eat
Edible parts: Leaves, Leaves - tea, Spice, Vegetable
Peperomia pellucida has been used as a food item as well as a medicinal herb. Although mostly grown for its ornamental foliage, the entire plant is edible, both cooked and raw.
Known Hazards
Where to Find It
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.
Asia, Africa, Amazon, American Samoa, Angola, Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Central Africa, Central America*, China, Chuuk, Congo DR, Cuba*, 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, PNG, Philippines, Pohnpei, Puerto Rico, Rotuma, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South America*, St Lucia, Sudan, Suriname, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe,
How to Identify
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.
Nutrition Score: 14/100
| Part | Moisture | kJ | kcal | Protein | Vit A | Vit C | Iron | Zinc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leaves | 92.2 | 105 | 25 | 0.5 | — | — | 3.2 | — |
How to Grow
Plants are grown from seed. It can also be grown by stem cuttings.
Propagation: Seed - sow in situ. Germination takes about 15 days.
Medicinal Uses
The analgesic properties of the plant seem to be related to its effect on prostaglandin synthesis. It may have potential as a broad spectrum antibiotic, as demonstrated in tests against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli. Chloroform extracts from dried leaves of P. pellucida have been shown to exhibit antifungal activity against Trichophyton mentagrophytes in vitro. Anti-inflammatory activity (in paw edema) and analgesic activity has been demonstrated in rats and mice. Although the plant can cause asthma-like symptoms in patients with known hypersensitivity reactions to the species, no clinical data have yet been reported on human toxicity. Ethnomedicinal uses for the plant vary. P. pellucida has been used for treating abdominal pain, abscesses, acne, boils, colic, fatigue, gout, headache, renal disorders, and rheumatic joint pain. In Bolivia, Alteños Indians use the whole plant to stop hemorrhages. The roots are used to treat fevers and the aerial parts are used as dressing for wounds. In northeastern Brazil, the plant has been used to lower cholesterol. In Guyana and the Amazon region, it is a popular cough suppressant, emollient, and diuretic. It is also used to treat proteinuria. It is also used topically for skin disorders such as acne and boils. In the western parts of Nigeria, it is used as water extract in the treatment of high blood pressure and urinary tract infections and insomnia. In the Philippines, it is one of the 10 medicinal plants endorsed by the Department of Health. It is used to decrease uric acid levels, which is a cause of arthritis and gout. It can be used as a decoction or eaten raw as a salad.
Wikipedia
Source ↗Peperomia pellucida (also known by common names pepper elder, shining bush plant, crab claw herb, and man to man) is an annual, shallow-rooted herb, usually growing to a height of about 15 to 45 cm (6 to 18 inches), it is characterized by succulent stems, shiny, heart-shaped, fleshy leaves and tiny, dot-like seeds attached to several fruiting spikes. It has a mustard-like odor when crushed.
Other Information
It is a popular vegetable. It is sometimes sold in markets.
Notes
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.
Names & Synonyms
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
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