华南胡椒 hua nan hu jiao

Climbers woody, glabrous except for rachis and bracts, dioecious. Stems ridged, rooting at nodes. Petiole 0.4-2 cm, shorter in leaves toward apex of stem, prophylls ca. 1/2 as long as petiole; leaf blades toward base of stem ovate, 8.5-11 × 6-7 cm, papery, without evident glands, base usually cordate, symmetric, apex acute; veins 5(-7), all ± basal; reticulate veins conspicuous, transversely oblong toward apex; leaf blades toward apex of stem narrowly ovate, 6-11 × 1.5-4.5 cm, base usually oblique, rounded or slightly tapered, apex acuminate. Spikes leaf-opposed. Male spikes white, 3-6.5 cm × ca. 2 mm; peduncle 1-1.8 cm; rachis and undersides of bracts densely white pubescent; bracts orbicular, ca. 1 mm wide, peltate, sessile. Stamens 2; filaments nearly as long as anthers. Female spikes white, 1-1.5 cm × ca. 3 mm; peduncle nearly as long as rachis; bracts as in male spikes. Ovary partly immersed in rachis; stigmas 3 or 4, tomentose. Drupe globose, ca. 2 mm in diam., partly immersed in rachis. Fl. Apr-Jun.

* Forests, on trees or rocks; 200-600 m. E and SW Guangdong, SE Guangxi, Hainan

Material of this species lacking fruit has often been confused with Piper hancei. However, P. austrosinense can be easily distinguished by its white flowers, whereas P. hancei has yellow flowers.