Piper umbellatum aka Wild Pepper

Piper umbellatum, or cordoncillo, belongs to the pepper family, Piperaceae. Its native range runs from Mexico through tropical America. This includes Central America, the Caribbean, and parts of South America. People gather it from the wild for food and medicine. They also grow it in home gardens. It has spread beyond its native range into other tropical regions.

This perennial has fleshy growth and a woody rootstock. Its form varies from a soft-stemmed plant to a shrub. Some plants scramble through nearby growth. Many stems branch close to the base. The listed height is about 8 feet [2.5 metres]. Longer stems can reach about 13 feet [4 metres]. Crushed leaves and stems give off a strong, sarsaparilla-like scent. Dried leaves show clear glands when held against bright light.

The plant grows in damp forests, thickets, and disturbed woodland. It also occurs beside rivers and in forest clearings. Records place it as high as 5,900 feet [1,800 metres]. Kew places it within the seasonally dry tropical biome. The habitat accounts still stress damp sites within that broad climate. With enough moisture, it can flower throughout the year. Its flowers form spikes. The supplied evidence gives no firm frost limit or garden spread. Growers can raise it from seed or divide its suckers. Direct sunlight can break seed dormancy.

Young leaves and flower clusters have recorded food uses. People eat them raw or steam them as vegetables. They also serve them with rice. The plant is a valued vegetable in Sierra Leone. Leaves add flavour to dishes and serve as cooking wrappers. Stem pith and flower clusters form part of a thick condiment. Fully ripe fruit has a mildly sweet taste. These uses do not mean every part or dose is safe.

Leaves and roots contain compounds that can cause severe gut irritation. High doses may cause mouth burning, vomiting, pain, and diarrhoea. The plant also has a recorded role in arrow poison. Traditional medicine uses include wound care and treatments for worms. These records describe uses, not proof of safe or effective treatment. Some people rub leaf juice on skin to deter biting pests. Evidence here describes this as a local belief. The plant can also become a troublesome plantation weed. Reports name cacao farms in Ghana and oil-palm farms in Cameroon.