Piper ribesioides
Wall.
Piperaceae
Some of the recorded uses here were for Piper sumatranum, which we have included as a synonym for this species[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Common Name:
General Information
Piper ribesioides is an evergreen, climbing shrub producing very stout stems.
The plant is sometimes gathered from the wild for local use as a medicine and food flavouring. It is said to be occasionally cultivated for its fruits, which contain an oil that is used as a spice[
]. The stems are commonly sold in markets in northern Laos for use as a spice[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
Range
E. Asia - Andaman Islands, Myanmar, Malaysia.
Habitat
Common in lowland forest[
334- Title
- Flora of Peninsula Malaysia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.tfbc.frim.gov.my
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- In the process of being assembled (15/07/09), it is currently a series of check sheets giving species name, brief description, habitat and high quality photos of the plants.
].
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Climber |
| Height | 0.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Cultivated, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Very closely related to P. Cubeba and P. Pedicellosum.
Edible Uses
An essential oil obtained from the fruit is used as a spice[
].
The stem is used as a flavouring. It is very spicy, with peppery and chilli tones, and leaves a lingering aftertaste. It is used especially in Northern Laos and northern Thailand food, and has a slightly numbing effect on the tongue[
969- Title
- Chilli wood, pepper wood Piper ribesioides Wall., Piper interruptum Opiz
- Publication
- Food From Northern Laos
- Author
- Dorothy Culloty
- Website
- http://www.foodfromnorthernlaos.com/2010/08/10/chilli-wood/
- Publisher
-
- Year
-
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Information on the use of Piper ribesioides and Piper interruptum in cooking in N. Laos
].
Medicinal
This species is related to P. Cubeba and is said to have similar uses[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
]. These uses are:-
Cubeb is a bitter, antiseptic, stimulant herb with a pungent, turpentine-allspice aroma[
238- Title
- Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bown. D.
- Publisher
- Dorling Kindersley, London.
- Year
- 1995
- ISBN
- 0-7513-020-31
- Description
- A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
]. Both the fruits and essential oil are used and have diuretic and expectorant effects whilst also improving digestion[
238- Title
- Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bown. D.
- Publisher
- Dorling Kindersley, London.
- Year
- 1995
- ISBN
- 0-7513-020-31
- Description
- A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
].
The fruits contain a number of medically active compounds including an essential oil; a bitter principle (cubebin); an alkaloid (piperidine); resin and a fixed oil[
254- Title
- The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants
- Publication
-
- Author
- Chevallier. A.
- Publisher
- Dorling Kindersley. London
- Year
- 1996
- ISBN
- 9-780751-303148
- Description
- An excellent guide to over 500 of the more well known medicinal herbs from around the world.
].
The immature, dried fruits are used in the treatment of coughs, bronchitis, sinusitis, throat and genito-urinary infections, poor digestion and amoebic dysentery[
238- Title
- Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bown. D.
- Publisher
- Dorling Kindersley, London.
- Year
- 1995
- ISBN
- 0-7513-020-31
- Description
- A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
].
Cubeb oil is antiseptic, carminative, diuretic and a stimulating expectorant[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
]. It is used as an ingredient of some throat lozenges[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
].
Other Uses
An essential oil is obtained from the fruit[
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
