角果胡椒 jiao guo hu jiao

Piper curtipedunculum C. de Candolle.

Climbers glabrous except for rachis and bases of bracts, dioecious. Stems drying blackish, 1-2 mm thick, finely striated when dry. Petiole 5-10 mm, sheathed at base only; leaf blade ovate or narrowly ovate to elliptic, 7-14 × 4-8 cm, papery, finely glandular, base oblique, sometimes higher side rounded, bilateral difference ca. 2 mm, apex acute to acuminate; veins (7-) 9, apical pair arising 2-4 cm above base, alternate, next pair 0.5-1.5 cm above base; reticulate veins conspicuous. Spikes leaf-opposed. Male spikes 15-25 cm × 2-3 mm; peduncle to 2 cm; bracts orbicular, 0.5-1 mm wide, peltate, stalk 1-1.2 mm, base pubescent. Stamens 2; filaments very short to ± absent; anthers ovoid to globose. Female spikes 9-14 cm × ca. 3.5 mm at anthesis, 4-5 mm thick in fruit; peduncle nearly 2 × as long as petioles; rachis roughly pubescent; bracts orbicular, stalk to 1 mm, 0.8-1 mm in diam. Ovary globose, distinct; stigmas 3 or 4, linear. Drupe obovoid, 4-angled, 1.5-2 mm. Fl. Apr-Jun.

Forests, on trees; 1000-1900 m. SE, S to W Yunnan [E Bangladesh, Bhutan, NE India, Sikkim, N Vietnam]

Similar to Piper boehmeriifolium but differing in its climbing habit, smaller, often very long-stalked bracts, and angular fruits.