Edible: Leaves, Leaves - tea, Spice, Vegetable
A herb. It grows 10-30 cm tall. It grows from seed each year. The stems are thick and rounded. They are pale green and fleshy. The leaves have stalks. These are 1-2 cm long. The leaf blades are 0.8-3.5 cm long by 0.6-2.8 cm wide. They are oval and shiny pale green. The base is heart shaped. The flowers are yellow. They are very small and borne on a light green spike. This is produced at the end of a branch or opposite the leaves. The nutlet is round and 0.5 mm across.
A tropical plant. It grows in warm regions. It occurs widely in the tropics. It grows in wet and shady places around houses. In Nepal it grows to about 2000 m altitude. It grows in rock crevices and near the base of cliffs. In China it grows from sea level to 200 m altitude.
Common Names: Greenhouse tea plant, Pepper elder, Bithe, Cang cua, Cao hu jiao, Clearweed, Kasang pak, Ketumpangan ayer, Krosang tiep, Latapate, Liha pambi, Lombaye lolitoko, Luchi pata, Luchi shak, Olasiman ihalas, Pak-kra-sank, Pakkrasung, Phak krasang, Punounuwa, Rangu-rangu, Sakauenleng, Sasaladaan, Sekewenleng, Shining bush, Silver bush, Sladanan, Suna-kosho, Suruhan, Thit-yay-gyi, Vao vai, Zaub qwj
Synonyms:
Piper pellucidum L.;
Piper exiguum Blume;
Peperomia exigua (Blume) Miquel;
Peperomia knoblicheriana Schott;