Piperaceae

The Piperaceae (/ˌpɪpəˈrʃ/), also known as the pepper family, are a large family of flowering plants. The group contains roughly 3,600 currently accepted species in 5 genera. The vast majority of species can be found within the two main genera: Piper (2,171 species) and Peperomia (over 1,000 species).

Piperaceae
Temporal range:
Piper nigrum, from Koehler (1887)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Magnoliids
Order: Piperales
Family: Piperaceae
Giseke
Subfamilies
  • Verhuellioideae Trelease ex Samain & Wanke 2008
  • Zippelioideae (Miquel 1840) Samain & Wanke 2008
  • Piperoideae Arnott 1832
Synonyms
  • Peperomiaceae Smith 1981

Members of the Piperaceae may be small trees, shrubs, or herbs. The distribution of this group is best described as pantropical.

The best-known species, Piper nigrum, yields most peppercorns that are used as spices, including black pepper, although its relatives in the family include many other spices.

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