Piper longum
L.
Long pepper, Indian long pepper
(c) kosala-abeykoon, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
(c) jularat, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
(c) jularat, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
What to Eat
Edible parts: Fruit, Herb, Spice, Leaves
The dried berries are used as a spice, added to curries and pickles, while young fruit are eaten raw. The leaves are eaten raw, fried with meat, or used in soups.
Where to Find It
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.
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 to Identify
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.
How to Grow
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.
Propagation: Seed - Semi-ripe cuttings.
Medicinal Uses
The fruit is used in traditional medicine and has been noted to have anticancer properties.
Production
Plants produce after 3-4 years.
Other Information
It is a cultivated food plant. It is sold in markets.
Notes
There are between 1000-2000 Piper species. They are mostly in the tropics. It is used in medicine. It has anticancer properties.
Names & Synonyms
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
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