Piperaceae - Botanical Family

The plant grows widely over the entire area between South Arabia and Southeast China. It is a branching vine, that may climb as high as 10-15ft, although it often grows as an understory ground cover. The plant prefers warm, humid conditions, but can tolerate some drought. It is generally too tender to grow outside of the tropics. It is used in a number of traditional remedies for the treatment of stomach ailments, infections, and as a general tonic. It is often chewed in combination with the betel nut (Areca catechu), as a stimulatory. Some evidence suggests that betel leaves have immune boosting properties as well as anti-cancer properties. The essential oil is produced by steam distillation from the leaves of Piper Betle. Betel Leaf Oil is yellow to brown with an distinctly phenolic, almost tar-like or smoky. Leaves have long been used in Indonesia as traditional medicine. These leaves have antimicrobial activity towards bacteria in the mouth. Essential oils of the plant contained phenolic compounds. Throughout the balmy Asian tropics, great passion is accorded the chewing of the stimulating fruit of the Areca catechu palm known as betel nut. Traditionally prepared by chopping or slicing the areca nut, adding a bit of moistened lime to a Piper betle leaf and wrapping the nuts in ribbon-like strips of leaf to make a small packet known as a buyo. When one visits a household, the host will likely offer one of these buyos as a gesture of hospitality. Workers will often carry small boxes or bags of prepared betel much like the Peruvians carry coca leaves. Piper betle grows as a vigorous vine which is usually supported by a trellis of bamboo poles. The heart-shaped leaves are marvelously pungent and spicy. Makes as interesting container plant.

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Long pepper is an edible and medicinal plant used as spice and in traditional Chinese medicine. It is cultivated for its fruit, which is usually dried and used as a spice and seasoning. Long pepper has a taste similar to, but sweeter and less pungent than, that of its close relative Piper nigrum (Black pepper) - from which black, green and white pepper are obtained.

Long Pepper is highly valued medicinal plant with decongestant, bronchodilator and expectorant effects, used to treat respiratory infections, stomachache, bronchitis, diseases of the spleen, cough, and much more.

The plant grows into a vining shrub or a vine that can climp a tree, trellis or fence. Prefers shade to semi-shade and adequate water. The leaves of Piper longum start as heart shaped in juvenile plants and may get more elongated as the plant matures.

The species Piper longum is of South Asian origin (Deccan peninsular), whereas the closely related Piper retrofractum

comes from South East Asia and is mostly cultivated in Indonesia and Thailand.

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With its rounded habit, Piper magnificum assumes an upright and stately look that gives the impression of a dome, or umbrella shaped shrub. It reaches a maximum height of 5-10 ft, with a spread of 7-12 ft, and it thrives best in areas that experience semi-shady sunlight.

When planting, water thoroughly and regularly to keep the soil from drying out. This plant needs moderate water and will do well in most soils, as long as it is well-draining and is reaching a full sun position. It will tolerate short periods of drought. To achieve the best shape and abundant blooms, prune the lacquered peppertree at least once a year.

The Piper magnificum is a USDA Zone 9-11 plant, that requires more attention during cold months. When planting in a pot, make sure to protect it from the cold weather by moving it close to your home, or to a sheltered spot in your garden. Place the pot in a sunny position, limiting direct exposure to sun during the hottest parts of the day, and keep its roots before temperatures drop. During winter, cover the pot with plastic sheeting or mulch. Water regularly, but make sure it is not overwatered.

To maximize flowering, youcan apply fertilizer to the soil every 4-6 weeks, or top up existing mulch with fresh mulch each spring. To keep it clean and attractive, prune away any dead branches, and pinch the stems that are out of shape. Keep an eye out for aphids or whiteflies, and gargle any encroaching weeds.

With minimal effort, you will be rewarded with a fiercely beautiful Piper magnificum, a large shrub that has a rounded and stately look that adds a natural charm to every garden.

Kava is both the common name and the beverage made from the root of Piper methysticum (family Piperaceae). Kava is native to Oceania, the islands of the tropical Pacific Ocean, where it is used as a ritual drink.

This is a shrub about 6 feet high. The leaves are alternate, cordate, with a wavy, entire margin, and an abrupt, acute point. The petiole is about an inch long, dilated at the base, and furnished with linear, erect stipules. The veins are prominent, about 12, diverging from the base of the leaf-blade. The flowers are small, apetalous, and arranged on slender spikes. Those bearing male flowers are axillary and solitary. The female spikes are numerous. Female flowers are especially rare and do not produce fruit even when hand-pollinated. Its cultivation is entirely by propagation from stem cuttings.

Kava is consumed throughout the Pacific Ocean cultures of Polynesia, including Hawaii, Vanuatu, Melanesia and some parts of Micronesia for its sedating effects. Kava is an anxiolytic herbal medicine used in the treatment of sleep and anxiety disorders. Some cases of kava-induced hepatotoxicity have been reported in the literature leading to its banishment in most countries worldwide.

Pepper is cultivated since millennia. The wild form has not yet been unambigously identified, but there are closely related pepper species in South India and Burma. While black and white pepper were already known in antiquity, but green pepper (and even more, red pepper) is a recent invention. Black pepper, grown in Southern India since more than two thousand years, has always been much valued all over the world. Pungent and aromatic. The pungency is strongest in white pepper and weakest in green pepper, while black and green pepper are more aromatic than the white one.

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Piper ornatum (Celebes pepper) is an ornamental plant native to Indonesia. It has a unique and eye-catching foliage, making it an excellent ground cover or low-growing vine in any sunny to semi-shade garden. It will grow in USDA zones 9-11 and prefers regular watering. This plant is not fussy with soil types, as long as it is planted in well-draining soil. Fertilize in spring with a balanced fertilizer and prune the stems, if needed, to keep the shape attractive. In colder climates, Piper ornatum may be grown in pots, as long as the roots are kept cool in the winter. Cold weather can cause leaf curling and stem dieback. If you're it growing in a pot, use a good quality potting mix and position in a partially shaded spot.

In the garden, it's an attractive and distinctive groundcover and low-growing vine that grows to about 2 ft (60 cm) in height. Its stunning foliage of heart-shaped leaves, in shades of green, pink and silver is complemented by clusters of white, tubular flowers in mid-summer. The undersides of the leaves are a striking purple-red shade that gives it an even more eye-catching appearance.

Piper ornatum is a great choice for any sunny to semi-shade garden and is low maintenance in terms of care. It requires regular watering and fertilizing. In colder climates, this plant can be successfully grown in pots, provided the roots are kept cool in the winter. The best soil type is well-draining, but it is not fussy. Prune stems, if needed, to keep the plant attractive.

Piper peltatum is a small plant, typically ranging 2-5 ft in height, with heart-shaped glossy green leaves. The stems are woody and usually not more than an inch in diameter. When used for ethnomedical purposes, the leaves and stems are boiled for about 20 minutes and the resulting liquid is drunk.

The plant thrives in full sun with regular water and is native to Central America. In the United States, it is hardy to USDA Zones 9-11, but may even survive in Zone 8 with protection from the cold in winter. It can also be grown in pots in colder climates, provided the soil does not freeze and the pot is brought in during the winter months.

When planting Piper peltatum, its ideal conditions should be taken into consideration. The soil should be kept moist, but not too wet, to prevent any root rot. Pruning is also beneficial since it helps promote a bushy, healthy form and encourages flowering. Fertilizing is recommended twice a year with a balanced organic fertilizer. As a small shrub, Piper peltatum looks best when kept in a neat and tidy appearance, so regular trimming is necessary to keep it looking good.

With its dual purpose of both ornamental and medicinal benefits, Piper peltatum will make a great addition to any garden. Its bright green foliage, low maintenance, and evergreen qualities makes it a perfect fit for any garden.

Piper retrofractum, commonly known as Javanese Long Pepper or Balinese Long Pepper, is a perennial climbing or scrambling plant in the Piperaceae family, native to Southeast Asia and widely cultivated in Indonesia and neighboring tropical regions. Its slender stems bear glossy, ovate to lance-shaped leaves and characteristic cylindrical fruiting spikes composed of numerous tiny fruits fused into a compact structure. The spikes are harvested while still immature and green and may be used fresh or dried, becoming reddish to brown as they mature. They have a hot, pungent, aromatic flavor and are used as a spice, particularly in Southeast Asian cuisine. Piper retrofractum is closely related to Indian Long Pepper, Piper longum, and the two species are sometimes confused in cultivation and trade.

Javanese Long Pepper grows best in warm, humid tropical conditions, with bright filtered light to partial shade and fertile, organic-rich, well-drained soil. Regular moisture encourages vigorous growth, but waterlogging should be avoided. It is suited primarily to USDA Zones 10-11 and requires protection from frost and prolonged cold. The flexible stems can be allowed to scramble or provided with a support for climbing, making the plant suitable for tropical gardens and large containers. Plants can be propagated from seed or, more conveniently, from stem cuttings.

This spreading vine is fast growing and has many uses. Eaten raw in salads or cooked with other greens or dishes, or wrap meats and cook in oven or on stove or grill.

It is used medicinally in Asia. The whole plant is used as expectorant, leaves as carminative in India and South China as well as Indonesia. It is used for feverish diseases, for digestive disorders, and toothache. The extract may be applied externally to treat pain in the bones. When the root is chewed with betel nut, it is said to be helpful for the treatment of coughs and asthma; with nutmeg and ginger it is used to treat pleurisy. The leaves are used as food (food wraps) in Vietnam.

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