滇西胡椒 dian xi hu jiao

Chavica suipigua (Buchanan-Hamilton ex D. Don) Miquel; Piper nepalense Miquel.

Climbers glabrous except for rachis and bases of bracts, dioecious. Stems rooting at nodes, clearly ridged, usually tuberculate. Petiole 1.1-3 cm, sheathed at base only; leaf blade long ovate, oblong, or narrowly elliptic, 6-12 × 2-5.5 cm, ± leathery, glandular, base rounded, obliquely tapered in apical leaves, usually symmetric, apex caudate-acuminate, mucro straight or curved; veins 5(-7), abaxially prominent, apical pair arising 0.6-2 cm above base, usually opposite, nearly reaching leaf apex, others basal; reticulate veins abaxially conspicuous. Spikes leaf-opposed. Male spikes 8-16 cm × 2-2.3 mm; peduncle slightly longer than petioles; rachis densely yellowish pubescent; bracts orbicular or suborbicular, 1.2-1.5 mm wide, peltate, ± sessile. Stamens 3; filaments ca. as long as anthers; anthers ovoid. Female spikes to ca. as long as leaf blades; rachis and bracts as in male spikes. Ovary ovoid, distinct, apex acute; stigmas 3 or 4, ovate-lanceolate. Drupe ovoid, 4(-7) mm, apex acute.

Forests, on trees; 1000-1400 m. W Yunnan [Bhutan, E India, Nepal]