The name of this species is spelled Piper argyritis in some places, including The International Plant Names Index. However, the name was originally spelled Piper argyrites when first published in Records of the Botanical Survey of India in 1912, and also in various modern treatments.

Common Name:

General Information

Piper argyrites is a stout, climbing plant[].
The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a substitute for the betel pepper (Piper betle)

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southeast Asia - Malaysia.

Habitat

Lowland forest and open vegetation at low elevations[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Climber
Height	0.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[]. One report says that only male plants are known[].

Edible Uses

The bark, peeled off in strips, has traditionally been used as a substitute for the leaf of Piper betle L.
The report does not specify if this use is as a masticatory or medicinally. The masticatory uses are as follows:-
A mixture of betel leaves and other ingredients is used as a masticatory, which acts as a gentle stimulant and is taken after meals to sweeten the breath. The ingredients of the betel mixture (quid) can vary widely per country or region. The three basic ingredients are often the betel leaf, the seed ('nut') from the areca palm (Areca catechu L.) and lime, produced by burning seashells or slabs of limestone. In the Moluccas and certain regions of Papua New Guinea, the betel leaf is replaced by the inflorescence of Piper siriboa. Other possible ingredients include gambier (Uncaria gambir), tobacco, palm sugar and various spices, such as cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) and clove (Syzygium aromaticum). The various mixtures provide a wide range of different tastes. Chewing the quid discolours teeth and stains saliva, mouth and lips red. It results in copious salivation, so users have to spit frequently[].
Chewing betel quids can lead to cancers in the mouth and on the tongue[].

Medicinal

The bark, peeled off in strips, has traditionally been used as a substitute for the leaf of Piper betle L.
The report does not specify if this use is as a masticatory or medicinally. The medicinal uses are as follows:-
The leaves are said to be anthelmintic, antibacterial, antifungal, antiseptic, aphrodisiac, astringent, carminative, expectorant, laxative, sialagogue, stimulant, stomachic and tonic[, ]. Leaf preparations and the leaf sap are applied to wounds, ulcers, boils and bruises. Heated leaves are applied as a poultice on the chest against cough and asthma, on the breasts to stop milk secretion, and on the abdomen to relieve constipation[]. The leaves are also used to treat nosebleed, ulcerated noses, gums and mucous membranes while the extract from the leaves is applied for wounds in the ears and as an infusion for the eye[]. A decoction of the leaves is used to bathe a woman after childbirth, or is drunk to lessen an unpleasant body odour[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

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