Piper gibbilimbum
C. DC.
Piperaceae Edible: Leaves - masticatory
gbif· cc0
President and Fellows of Harvard College
gbif· cc0
President and Fellows of Harvard College
gbif· cc0
President and Fellows of Harvard College
Description
A shrub. It grows 2-4 m tall. The leaves are 17 cm long by 15 cm wide. They are broadly oval and heart shaped at the base. On fertile shoots the leaves are smaller. Male flowers are in a spike 10 cm long and 3-5 mm wide. The female flowers are in a spike 10 cm long and 0.6 mm wide. The small fruit are orange when ripe and hang down.
Edible Uses
The leaves are used as a masticatory.
Distribution
It is a tropical plant. It grows in secondary forest and often near streams between 1,300-2,000 m above sea level.
Where It Grows
Asia, Indonesia, Papua, Papua New Guinea, PNG, SE Asia,
References (2)
- Gardner, R. O., 2003, Piper (Piperaceae) in New Guinea: The non-climbing species. BLUMEA 48:47-68
- World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
