Ryytipippuri – Piper nigrum

Stems have swollen nodes and adventitious roots near the base. Branching is dimorphic. Vertical vegetative stems become stout, woody with a thick flake-like bark. At each node there is a leaf, an axillary bud which grows out to give the horizontal fruiting branch and short adventitious roots which adhere to the climbing support. Leaves are alternate, stipulate, entire, ovate, leathery, up to 20 x12, petiolate, dark green above, pale beneath. Flowers are minute, on pendulous spikes borne opposite leaves, greenish or white, unisexual or bisexual, and without perianth. Ovary is globose, uniovulate, with 3-5 stigmas. Stamens are 2-4. Fruits are in 5-15 cm long spikes of 50-60, sessile, globose drupes. Each drupe is upto 6 mm in diameter, turning red when ripe, drying black. Seed is solitary, up to 4 mm in diameter.