Piper betle

Gardner, R. O., 2013, Piper (Piperaceae) in New Guinea: the climbing species, Blumea 57 (3), pp. 275-294 : 280

3. Piper betle L. — Fig. 1d

Piper betle L. (1753) 28; Quisumb. (1930) 85; R.O. Gardner (2006) 579; (2010) 8. — Type: Herb. Hermann 3: 32, 4: 9 ( BM n.v.) .

Distribution — Widely cultivated in Asia, Malesia, Micronesia, and in Melanesia east to Fiji.

Habitat & Ecology — In gardens and persisting after cultivation, also naturalized; to c. 750 m altitude.

Notes — If the distinctive fruits are not present this species might be confused with P. caninum or P. interruptum , but its leaves tend to dry brownish rather than grey- or olive-brown and do not have large silvery glands. It almost always lacks long hairs, but near the base below (sometimes across both surfaces, best seen on new leaves) there is a scattering of minute (0.05 mm long) appressed hairs.

Labels for New Guinea specimens of P. betle are generally unclear as to naturalization status. However, for the Bismarck Archipelago Peekel (1984: 124) says: “Everywhere wild in scrub ... “.

Quisumbing (1930: pl. 42 (8)) described the stamen of P. betle as having a short stout filament c. 0.6–1 mm diam, with the two rather large anther locules colinear at the filament apex. Dehiscence takes place at or just below the bract-heads, and is by a continuous apical slit. As in other regions, female spikes can also bear stamens, e.g. in Darbyshire 1018.

Figures

Fig. 1 Specimens of Piper species. – a. P. abbreviatum Opiz. – b. P. cf. amboinense (Miq.) C.DC. – c. P. arfakianum C.DC. – d. P. betle L. (a: Brass 28658; b: Kanehira & Hatusima 11500; c: Sleumer & Vink 4433; d: Craven & Schodde 858, all A).