monkey pepper

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• monkey pepper

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Steffensia tuberculata
• Piper tuberculatum var. minus
• Piper tuberculatum var. cangrejalense
• Piper nutans
• Artanthe beecheyana
• Piper cujabanum
• Artanthe tuberculata
• Piper yurimaguasanum
• Artanthe tuberculata var. brevispicata
• Piper arboreum subsp. tuberculatum
• Piper geniculatum f. puberulum
• Steffensia tuberculata var. glabrata
• Piper tuberculatum var. majus
• Piper tuberculatum var. obtusifolium
• Piper santo-domingense
• Piper tuberculatum var. rigidomembranaceum
• Piper tuberculatum var. scandens

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Piperales, it is classified under the family Piperaceae and the genus Piper. Specifically, its taxonomic identity is defined as Piper tuberculatum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse range of habitats across the North and Central American landscapes. Within Mexico, its presence is widely documented in the Northeast and along the Gulf coast. Furthermore, it can be found extending through the Southwest and Southeast regions of the country. The species also stretches southward into Central America, specifically inhabiting the territory of Belize. Consequently, its geographical distribution covers a vast and varied ecological corridor.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Piper tuberculatum is characterized by its remarkable adaptability across diverse and varied ecosystems. It can be found occupying a wide range of habitats, including anthropogenic areas, the Caatinga (strict sense), the Cerrado (broad sense), riparian or gallery forests, terra firme forests, ombrophilous (rainforest) forests, and restinga environments. This distribution reflects a high tolerance for different moisture regimes and soil types, spanning from coastal sandy soils to dense tropical forests. Furthermore, the species exhibits a significant altitudinal breadth, thriving at elevations ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum of 2200 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

2200 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Caatinga (stricto sensu), Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria, Floresta de Terra Firme, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial), Restinga

Morphology

The morphology of Piper tuberculatum is characterized by its growth as a woody shrub that reaches a maximum plant height of approximately 5 meters. This species functions as an independent organism, lacking any parasitic tendencies, and maintains a terrestrial habit rather than being aquatic or semiaquatic. While it possesses climbing tendencies, it is classified as a self-supporting plant, functioning as both an obligatory and facultative self-supporting climber. Furthermore, it does not exhibit epiphytic behavior, remaining strictly terrestrial in its ecological niche.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Piper tuberculatum is characterized by the production of fleshy fruits that facilitate its reproductive cycle. The seeds produced by this species are remarkably consistent in their morphological dimensions, exhibiting a uniform seed volume with a maximum, minimum, and mean value of 14 mm³. In terms of mass, the seeds are extremely lightweight and show no variation in the recorded data, maintaining a constant seed mass of 0.00106 g for both the minimum and maximum values, as well as the mean. This combination of fleshy fruit structure and highly standardized seed size and mass defines the specific reproductive output of the plant.

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Seed mass mean:

0.00106 g

Seed volume max:

14 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Piper tuberculatum has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit, root.

Fruit

1. Fitoterapia

Root

1. Acta tropica

Chemicals

Piper tuberculatum has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Pellitorine, Piperlongumine, Piplartine.

Pellitorine

1. Fitoterapia

Piperlongumine

1. Acta tropica

Piplartine

1. Acta tropica

Conditions

Piper tuberculatum has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include schistosomiasis.

Schistosomiasis

1. Acta tropica

Preparations

Piper tuberculatum has 1 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include methanolic extracts.

Methanolic extracts

1. Natural product research