Piper boehmeriifolium (Wall. ex Miq.) C. DC.

Subshrubs erect, 1-3(-5) m high, glabrous to ± uniformly hairy, dioecious, most parts usually drying black. Stems terete to thickly ridged when dry, minutely papillate to smooth, usually glabrous. Petiole (2-)3-10 mm, glabrous or sometimes sparsely pubescent; leaf blades toward base of stem elliptic, narrowly elliptic, oblong, oblong-lanceolate, or ± ovate, (8-)11-24 × (2.5-)4-9.5 cm, papery to thinly papery, densely finely glandular, abaxially glabrous or occasionally puberulent, adaxially glabrous except sometimes for sparsely pubescent veins, base oblique, 1 side rounded, other side tapered and acute, bilateral difference 2-3 mm, apex acute to long acuminate; veins 6-10, usually 1 more lateral vein on wider side, apical pair arising 1/3-1/2 way along midvein, alternate, reaching leaf apex, next pair often also above base; reticulate veins conspicuous, transversely oblong. Spikes mostly leaf-opposed, often terminal in male plants. Male spikes 10-16(-23) cm × 2-3 mm; peduncle 1-3.5 cm; bracts ± orbicular, 1-2(-2.5) mm wide, peltate, glabrous, obconical, shorter than wide, Stamens 2; filaments thick, short; anthers reniform. Female spikes 6-12 cm; peduncle and bracts as in male spikes; rachis sparsely pubescent; bracts 1-1.4 mm or slightly wider in diam. Stigmas deciduous. Drupes densely clustered, subglobose, distinct, 1.2-3 mm in diam. Fl. Dec-Jul.

Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan [Bhutan, NE India, Malaysia, Myanmar, Sikkim, Thailand, N Vietnam].

Forests; 500-2200 m.

Chavica boehmeriifolia Miquel, Syst. Piperac. 265. 1843.