Kingdom: Plantae

Phylum: Streptophyta

Class: Equisetopsida

Subclass: Magnoliidae

Order: Piperales

 Family: Piperaceae

 Genus: Piper

 Species: longum

Description: Scandent or straggling shrubs, sometimes ascending and climbing. Leaves simple, alternate, ovate, acute at apex, cordate and strongly oblique at base, 7-nerved, membraneous, shining above; nerves impressed; petiolate. Female spike stout, erect; peduncle 1.5 cm long; bracts peltate, orbicular. Male spike to 7 cm long, erect, slender; stamens 2. Fruit oblong; berry 2 mm across, glabrous, black or deep red..

Uses: Used as spice, it is used in Ayurvedic herb for enhancing digestion, assimilation and metabolism of the food we eat.