Wild pepper
Piper umbellatum
Synonyms: Piper grandifolium, Piper latifolium, Peperidia subpeltata, Piper subpeltatum, Peperidia umbellata, Piper subpeltatum var. parvifolium, Peperidia sidifolia, Peperomia reniformis, Pothomorphe umbellata f. glabra, Peperomia sidifolia, Piper umbellatum var. majus, Piper umbellatum var. glabrum, Pothomorphe allenii, Pothomorphe sidifolia, Piper umbellatum var. geminatum, Piper cuernavacanum, Pothomorphe subpeltata, Pothomorphe umbellata, Piper umbellatum var. vestitum, Piper umbellatum var. tomentellum, Piper afzelianum, Lepianthes umbellata, Pothomorphe umbellata var. vestita, Piper reniforme, Piper umbellatum var. subpeltatum, Peperomia grandifolia, Peperidia afzeliana, Pothomorphe dombeyana, Pothomorphe umbellata var. glabra, Pothomorphe umbellata var. cuernavacana, Pothomorphe umbellata var. glabrior, Piper sidifolium, Heckeria sidifolia var. subglabrata, Piper subpeltatum var. sidifolium, Piper dombeyanum, Heckeria umbellata, Heckeria subpeltata, Heckeria sidifolia, Peperomia subpeltata, Peperomia umbellata
Western Herbalism Properties
Gallery
Botanical Description
Piper umbellatum (syn. Pothomorphe umbellata), known as cordoncillo, caapeba or santa-maria leaf, is an aromatic perennial shrub or subshrub in the family Piperaceae reaching 1 to 3 metres in height, native to tropical America from southern Mexico through Central America to Brazil and the Caribbean, and also naturalised in tropical Africa and Asia. The stems are jointed, soft-woody, swollen at the nodes and often reddish. The very large, heart-shaped to nearly orbicular leaves are 15 to 35 centimetres across, with palmate venation, a deeply cordate base and a pointed apex; the upper surface is dark green and the lower surface paler and finely pubescent. Tiny apetalous, bisexual flowers are crowded on slender white to cream cylindrical spikes 4 to 10 centimetres long, arranged in characteristic terminal umbel-like clusters of 4 to 12 spikes, which gives the species its epithet. Fruits are small one-seeded drupes embedded in the rachis. The plant emits a peppery, somewhat balsamic odour when crushed.
Cultural & Historical Context
Traditional American Uses
None Documented
Chemistry & External Identifiers
Important Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.