Giant pepper vine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Giant pepper vine |
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| Giant pepper vine on a black apple tree near Foxground, Australia | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Piper
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| Species: |
novae-hollandiae
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The giant pepper vine (Piper novae-hollandiae) is a common climbing plant. You can find it growing in the rainforests of eastern Australia. This plant is a relative of the black pepper plant, which gives us the spice we use in food! It grows from southern New South Wales all the way up to tropical Queensland.
Contents
About the Giant Pepper Vine
What is it?
The giant pepper vine was first described by a Dutch botanist named Friedrich Anton Wilhelm Miquel. He wrote about it in 1866. Its scientific name, novae-hollandiae, means "from New Holland." This was an old name for Australia.
How it Grows
The giant pepper vine is a very strong and fast-growing climber. Its stems become woody and are covered in rough, grey bark. A mature stem can be about 40 cm (16 in) thick at its base. It can also reach an amazing length of 30–40 metres (98–131 ft)! Sometimes, you can see "curtains" of its leaves hanging down from tall rainforest trees.
Its Leaves
When the plant is young, its leaves are thin and oval-shaped. They measure about 8 cm by 8 cm (3 in by 3 in). As the plant gets older, its leaves become thicker and larger. These mature leaves are called "sun leaves." They are a deep green color with clear veins. They usually measure about 12 cm by 8 cm (5 in by 3 in).
Life Cycle and Reproduction
Flowers and Fruits
The giant pepper vine has small, cream-colored flowers. They appear from April to August. The male flowers grow on a long, thin spike. The female flowers grow on a more oval-shaped spike. Both male and female flowers can be found on the same plant.
After the flowers, small fruits grow. These fruits are oval-shaped and about 0.5 cm (0.2 in) long. They are red and fleshy, like a small plum. These fruits are a good food source for animals living in the rainforest.
Uses of the Plant
The giant pepper vine is mostly grown for its beauty. It grows too fast and too big for a regular home garden. However, it is sometimes used in larger parks and gardens. It can also be grown as an indoor plant when it is young.
