Pepper family
Description
A family of small trees, shrubs and climbers, mainly in the tropics throughout the world (Piperaceae 1).
The leaves are alternate, simple, entire and with stipules, and with glands containing an aromatic oil. The flowers are usually borne in dense spikes or racemes opposite the leaves. They are small, unisexual or bisexual, regular, without perianth. There are 2-6 stamens and a superior ovary. The fruit is a fleshy drupe with a single seed.
There are 4 genera.
Use
The genus Piper yields the condiment pepper; betel pepper, the leaves of which are chewed as a masticatory in East Asia; and kava, the national beverage of Oceania made from roots.
Described species
Piper nigrum, pepper
Piper betle, betel pepper, see Piper nigrum