Independent botanical knowledge atlas Taxonomy indexed. Evidence labelled. Safety kept visible. Explore the medicinal index
Enriched botanical record

Black pepper

Piper nigrum L.

Also indexed aspeppercornPiper nigrumBlack PepperBlack Pepper (EN)Black pepperPfefferPimienta negra (ES)Poivrier noir
FamilyPiperaceae
GenusPiper
Use categories8
Linked notes0
Poison use is recorded for this taxon.This is a classification flag, not a dosage guide. Do not infer safe use from any documented-use label.

Botanical identity

A pungent culinary spice that can materially change the character of a preparation.

KingdomPlantae
Phylum / divisionTracheophyta
ClassMagnoliopsida
OrderPiperales
FamilyPiperaceae
GenusPiper
Scientific name with authorshipPiper nigrum L.
Curated parts indexedFruit

Indexed scientific synonyms

Muldera multinervis Miq.Muldera wightiana Miq.Piper aromaticum Lam.Piper baccatum C.DC.Piper colonum C.PreslPiper denudatum OpizPiper glabrispicum C.DC.Piper glyphicum Hoffmanns.Piper glyphicum Hoffmanns. ex KunthPiper lanatum WightPiper lanatum Wight ex Miq.Piper laxum VahlPiper malabarense C.DC.Piper nigricans Willd.Piper nigricans Willd. ex LinkPiper nigrum var. hirtellosum Asokan Nair & RavindranPiper nigrum var. mysorensis C.DC.Piper nigrum var. trioicum (Roxb.) C.DC.Piper pseudonigrum Velay. & AmalrajPiper rotundum NoronhaPiper sivarajanii Karthik. & V.S.KumarPiper trioicum Roxb.Piper velayudhanii E.S.S.Kumar & S.P.MathewRhyncholepis haeankeana Miq.

Documented use categories

Medicine
Human food
Animal food
Environmental use
Gene source
Material
Poison reported
Crop wild relative

These categories describe the kinds of human-use reports attached to the taxon in the source checklist. Multiple categories can coexist; a plant may be recorded as both food and poison, depending on part, preparation and context.

How to interpret this record

Traditional and practical context

Traditional and practical context is preparation-specific. A documented use category is not proof of clinical effectiveness.

Evidence boundary

Evidence must be assessed by exact species, plant part, preparation, route, dose and health question.

Safety boundary

Confirm botanical identity, plant part, route, dose, medicines, allergies, pregnancy, breastfeeding and age before use.

Dataset record and provenance

DatasetWCUPS 2020
LicenceCC BY 4.0
Name sourceIPNI
IPNI / external identifier682369-1
Use codesAF EU GS HF MA ME PO
Crop wild relativeYes

Contributing checklist sources

Kew Economic Botany CollectionUSDA GRINMedicinal Plant Names Services v8.2Useful Plants of New GuineaPlant Resources of South-East AsiaPlant Resources for Tropical AfricaUseful Plants of West Tropical AfricaMalaria and Fever in Latin America

Read the full dataset citation, licence and import methodology →

!

Educational index, not a treatment recommendation

The presence of a taxon in this database does not provide a diagnosis, dose, formulation or assurance of safety. Some indexed plants are toxic, regulated, endangered or unsafe in specific life stages.