Thanks, Nudrat ji, Some interesting extracts from Wikipedia link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_pepper
*Long pepper* (*Piper longum*), sometimes called *Javanese Long Pepper*, *Indian Long Pepper* or *Indonesian Long Pepper*, is a flowering<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flowering_plant> vine <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vine> in the family *Piperaceae<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piperaceae> *, cultivated for its fruit, which is usually dried and used as a spice<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spice>and seasoning <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasoning>. Long pepper is a close relative of the black pepper <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_pepper>plant, and has a similar, though generally hotter, taste. The word *pepper* itself is derived from the Sanskrit<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrit>word for long pepper, *pippali<http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%BF#Sanskrit> *. The fruit of the pepper consists of many minuscule fruits — each about the size of a poppy seed <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poppy_seed> — embedded in the surface of a flower spike; it closely resembles a hazel tree<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hazel> catkin <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catkin>. The fruits contain the alkaloid <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alkaloid> piperine<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piperine>, which contributes to their pungency. Another species of long pepper, *Piper retrofractum*, is native to Java<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Java_(island)>, Indonesia <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesia>. Prior to the European discovery of the New World, long pepper was an important and well-known spice <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spice>. The ancient history of black pepper is often interlinked with (and confused with) that of long pepper. The Romans knew of both and often referred to either as just *piper*; many ancient botanists erroneously believed dried black pepper and long pepper came from the same plant. Only after the discovery of the New World and of chile peppers<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chile_pepper>did the popularity of long pepper decline. Chile peppers, some of which, when dried, are similar in shape and taste to long pepper, were easier to grow in a variety of locations more convenient to Europe. Today, long pepper is an extremely rare ingredient in European cuisines, but it can still be found in Indian <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India>vegetable pickles <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_pickle>, some North African<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Africa>spice mixtures, and in Indonesian <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesia> and Malaysian<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia>cooking. It is readily available at Indian grocery stores, where it is usually labeled *pipalli*. Other links: http://www.motherherbs.com/piper-longum.html (with a pix), http://www.uni-graz.at/~katzer/engl/Pipe_lon.html (good details with pictures). 2009/2/6 Nudrat <[email protected]> > > Hello > > The plant in picture is Piper longum of family Piperaceae > > On Feb 5, 10:14 pm, preeti patil <[email protected]> wrote: > > This plant looks like the akalkara. But it is not so. > > > > Can you help with ID please? > > > > Thanks > > > > Preeti > > > > for ID.JPG > > 203KViewDownload > > > -- With regards, J.M.Garg "We often ignore the beauty around us" Creating Awareness about Indian Flora & Fauna: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Jmgarg1 For learning about our trees & plants, please visit/ join Google e-group (Indiantreepix) http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "indiantreepix" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
