PIPERACEAE
Morphological description
Herbaceous (usually); stem swollen at the nodes.
Leaves
Leaves simple, entire. Usually alternate, gland-dotted, stipulate (not Peperomia). Sometimes huge leaves (Pothomorphe*).
Inflorescence
Inflorescence a spike, usually leaf-opposed. Sometimes compound spike and huge leaves (Pothomorphe*).
Flowers
Flowers tiny, without perianth; ovary superior, 1-celled, 1 ovule.
Fruit
Fruit sometimes with hooked bristles (Zippelia).
Seed
Seed.
Different from: Chloranthaceae: leaves opposite, spikes compound, ovary inferior. - Urticaceae: cystoliths, perianth present.
Distribution: Pantropical, in Malesia 4 genera: - Peperomia (pantropical), terrestrial and epiphytic herbs; - Piper (pantropical), herbs, shrubs, climbers, lowland and montane rain forest; - Pothomorphe (originally Neotropics, now pantropical), shrubs of open places; - Zippelia (West Malesia), herbs, rain forest, limestone..
Notes: Condiment (pepper): Piper nigrum. - Betel chewing: Piper betle. - Ornamentals: some Peperomia. - Medicinal use: Piper.
Literature: .A. Backer & R.C. Bakhuizen van den Brink, Fl. Java 1 (1963) 167- 174.
Spot characters (Van Balgooy): Piperaceae 58, 79 - Peperomia 16, 46, 59, 72, 96 - Piper 16, 31, 33, 51, 53, 59, 63, 64, 72, 96 - Pothomorphe 16, 33, 53, 59, 78, 96; P. peltata 51 - Zippelia 16, 33, 72, 95.
Illustrations: Fig. 142. Peperomia pellucida (L. f.) Kunth (Piperaceae). Reproduced from E.E. Henty & G.S. Pritchard, Weeds of New Guinea and their control. Botany Bull. no. 7 (1973) 135. Fig. 143. Piper nigrum L. (Piperaceae). Reproduced from J.J. Ochse & R.C. Bakhuizen van den Brink, Vegetables of the Dutch East Indies (1980) fig. 357.
image in PhytoImages for Piperaceae
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