Distribution and habitat: Shade loving plant growing in marshy habitats

Botany:  

• An erect shrub, 1.5-2 m height, stem put forth numerous aerial roots that go and penetrate the soil. Water stagnation is not detrimental as long as the shoot is above water level.

Constituents: Essential oil of Piper contains methyleugenol (63.8%) and eugenol (23.6%). They have antifungal, antibacterial and insecticidal properties.  Leaves contain safrole.

Uses: The plant has been found immune to the foot rot-causing fungus Phytophthora capsici and resistant to nematodes that cause root knots in black pepper. It is quite compatible with black pepper and hence used as a rootstock for black pepper grafting.

Propagation: By cuttings or seeds. 

• Seeds have to be fresh while sowing since viability is low. Seeds sown in sand germinate readily and after four leaf stages can be transferred to bags filled with any suitable potting mixture.
• Cuttings with 3 nodes if kept in poly bags with any medium will root within a week.