Species: Piper sarmentosum
English Name: Running Pepper
Chinese Name: 假蒟、蛤蒟
Family: Piperaceae
Description:
Herbs to more than 10 m, mostly creeping along ground, most parts very finely powdery pubescent at least when young, dioecious. Fertile stems ± erect. Petiole 2-5 cm (-10 cm on creeping stems), very finely powdery pubescent; leaf blades toward base of stem ovate to suborbicular, those toward apex of stem smaller, ovate or ovate-lanceolate, 7-14 × 6-13 cm, ± membranous, finely glandular, abaxially finely powdery pubescent along veins, adaxially glabrous, base cordate to rounded, sometimes cuneate on apical branches, ± symmetric, apex acute; veins 7, glaucous when dry, abaxially very prominent, apical pair arising 1-2 cm above base, reaching leaf apex; reticulate veins conspicuous. Spikes leaf-opposed. Male spikes white, 1.5-2.5(-3) cm × 2-3 mm; peduncle to ca. as long as spikes; rachis pubescent; bracts transversely elliptic, 0.5-0.6 mm, peltate, ± sessile. Stamens 2; filaments ca. 2 × as long as anthers; anthers subglobose. Female spikes 2-5(-8) cm, to 8 mm thick in fruit; peduncle as in male spikes; rachis glabrous; bracts suborbicular, peltate, 1-1.3 mm in diam. Stigmas (3 or)4(or 5), hispidulous. Drupe subglobose, 4-angled, 2.5-3 mm, partly connate to rachis. Fl. Apr-Nov.
Photos used under a Creative Commons license
References:
Wu ZY, Raven PH, Hong DY (eds) (1999) Flora of China. Vol. 4 (Cycadaceae through Fagaceae). Science Press, Beijing, and Missouri Bot Garden Press, St. Louis