English: Black pepper Hindi: Golmirch, kalmirch Originally from
south estern India, P. nigrum is highly regarded as a condiment
as well as a medicine, especially in Ayurveda and Unani. It is
an important constituent of the Ayurvedic preparation Trikatu,l
and historically was important to the Romans, Africans and
Europeans. White pepper comes from the same plant but the fruits
are ripe and peeled; it has a more pungent taste. The plant
grows wild in tropical par!s of India and is widely cultivated
there and in many other countries including Sri Lanka, China and
parts of Africa. Pepper is a climbing perennial shrub cultivated
on posts or wire and growing up to a height of 6 m (Plate 46).
The branches are stout, trailing and rooting at the nodes. The
glossy pale green leaves are entire, 8-18 cm in length and 5-10
cm in breadth, with an acute base, rounded or equally or
unequally cordate. The flowers occur in minute spikes and are
dioecious. The female bears two anthers and the male a single
pistil. Fruiting spik