苎叶蒟(原变种) zhu ye ju (yuan bian zhong)

Piper boehmeriifolium var. tonkinense C. de Candolle; Piper spirei C. de Candolle; P. spirei var. pilosius C. de Candolle; P. terminaliflorum Y. C. Tseng.

Subshrubs 2-3(-5) m high, glabrous to ± uniformly hairy. Stems ridged when dry, sometimes minutely papillate. Petiole (2-)4-10 mm; leaf blades toward base of stem elliptic, oblong, oblong-lanceolate, or ± ovate, (8-)11-24 × (2.5-)4-8(-9.5) cm, thinly papery, base with bilateral difference ca. 2 mm; veins (6 or)7 or 8(or 9). Female spikes 10-12 cm. Drupes 2-3 mm in diam. Fl. Apr-Jul.

Forests; 500-2200 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan [Bhutan, NE India, Malaysia, Myanmar, Sikkim, Thailand, N Vietnam]

Male plants sometimes have apical leaves reduced and inflorescences effectively terminal. Y. C. Tseng believes that these should be placed in a distinct species, Piper terminaliflorum. Such plants have been observed throughout the range of P. boehmeriifolium and M. G. Gilbert and N. H. Xia believe that they are better regarded as just an extreme variant of a widespread and rather variable species.

Used medicinally.