Chavica sylvatica (Roxburgh) Miquel.

Climbers herbaceous, dioecious. Stolons present. Stems ridged and furrowed when dry, very finely powdery pubescent when young. Petiole 1-7 cm, very finely powdery pubescent; prophylls 1/2 as long as petioles or slightly longer; leaf blade usually ovate, those at apex of stem ovate-lanceolate, 8-11 × 4-8.5 cm, papery, densely glandular, glabrous except for densely finely powdery pubescent veins abaxially and sometimes base of midvein adaxially, base cordate, symmetric, apex acuminate; veins 7, apical pair arising 0.7-1.5 cm above base, others basal; reticulate veins large, conspicuous, veinlets ascending Spikes leaf-opposed. Male spikes slender, 5-8 cm; bracts orbicular, peltate. Stamens 4; filaments short; anthers reniform. Female spikes erect, 1.5-2.5 cm × 3-4 mm; peduncle 0.5-2 cm, very finely powdery pubescent; bracts orbicular, ± sessile, adaxially pubescent; rachis pubescent, ca. 1.5 mm in diam. Ovary globose, distinct; stigmas 2 or 3, ovate, apex acuminate. Drupe globose, ca. 3 mm in diam., inserted within excavations of rachis. Fl. Aug-Sep.

Neither the exact application of the name Piper sylvaticum nor the identity of Chinese material so named is clear. The name has never been adequately typified and there are serious discrepancies between the protologue and most material to which the name has been applied.

Wet places within forests; circa 800 m. Xizang, S Yunnan [Bangladesh, India, Myanmar]