1185

 Piper divaricatum G.Mey

Synonym	:	Piper colubrinum Link
Family	:	PIPERACEAE
Local name	:	Malyalam –Thippali
Flowering and fruiting period	:	November-April
Distribution	:	Native of South America
Distribution in kerala	:	All Districts
Habitat	:	Cultivated
Uses	:	most widely used of all Ayurvedic herbs.
Key Botanical Characters: slender, aromatic, climber with perennial woody roots, creeping and jointed stems, and fleshy fruits embedded in the spikes. Leaves are numerous, 6.3 to 9.0 cm, broadly ovate or oblong-oval, dark green and shining above, pale and dull beneath. The older leaves are dentate, dark in color and heart shaped. The younger leaf is ovate in shape and contains 5 veins on them. Flowers are monoceous and male and female flowers are borne on different plants. Male flower stalk is about 1 to 3 inch long and female flower stalk is ½ to 1 inch long. Fruit is long.