Piper hapnium is considered to be an endangered species of Piper. Occurrence of this species is reported mainly from the low-lying hills of Western Ghats. Though, scientists of Indian Institute of Spices Research conducted extensive surveys for collection of Piper species from the Western Ghats, P. hapnium (female plants) could be collected only once from the low land hills of Courtallum, Tamil Nadu. Earlier surveys conducted in the Silent Valley forests of Western Ghats (Ravindran et al. 1990) revealed the non-occurrence of P. hapnium in this area, though this sanctuary is identified as one of the rich centers for Piper diversity.
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S Biju, K V Saji, B Sasikumar, K Johnson George,

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Journal of Spices and Aromatic Crops 10 (1) : 63-64 (2001) Miscellaneous note Piper hapnium : A rare Piper species from Peruvannamuzhi, Kerala - A new report. K V Saji, B Sasikumar, K Johnson George & S Biju, Indian Institute of Spices Research, Calicut - 673 012, Kerala, India. Piper hapnium is considered to be an endan-gered species of Piper. Occurrence of this species is reported mainly from the low-lying hills of Western Ghats. Though, scientists of Indian Institute of Spices Research conducted extensive surveys for collection of Piper species from the Western Ghats, P. hapnium (female plants) could be collected only once from the low land hills of Courtallum, Tamil Nadu. Earlier surveys conducted in the Silent Valley forests of Western Ghats (Ravindran et a1. 1990) revealed the non-occurrence of P. hapnium in this area, though this sanctuary is identified as one of the rich centers for Piper diversity. Hooker (1886) described P. hapnium under the section Chavica, and stated that the specimens examined for description were insufficient. Gamble (1925) reported 13 Piper species includ-ing P. hapnium from South India. However his Table 1. Characters of Piper hapnium description of this plant is too meagre to . understand the plant. Recently a small population of P. hapnium (both male and female) trailing on Ai/antus sp., Aporosa lindleyana and other trees was located in the Peruvannamuzhi forest (10 m to 60 m MSL) in Calicut District, Kerala alongwith other species of Piper such as P. nigrum, P. attenuatum etc. Male plants were observed for the first time, which were rare compared to female plants. The characters of P. hapnium are described in Table 1. Spikes are erect, long, robust and fused latera-lly. Young female spikes are light yellow. Male spike is coffee coloured and slightly sickle sha ped. Stamens two and dithecus. Bracts peltate orbicular. Ovary is monocarpellary and trilo-cular. Berries partly projecting out from the rachis. P. hapnium (both male and female) has a distinct aroma different from that of P. longum. Sample specimens were collected and con-served in the National Conservatory of Black Pepper at Indian Institute of Spices Research, Peruvannamuzhi. Habit: A slender climbing shrub. Runner shoots creep and spread on the ground. Leaves: Petiolate with prominent ribs from the base. Nerves on the lower side of young leaves are pubescent with minute deciduous hairs. Mature leaves glabrous,lanceolate and unequally cordate with incurved auricles at the base, seven nerved and bullate. Leaf tip acute to acuminate. Female plant Fruiting branch leaf length: 8.5 to 8.8 em. Main shoot leaf length: 6.7 to 6.9 em Leaf petiole length (main shoot): 6.3 to 6.5 em Spike length: 5 to 5.5 em " Male plant Spiking branch leaf length: 7.7 to 8.00 em. Main shoot leaf length: 5.2 to 5.5 em Leaf petiole length (main shoot): 6.5 em Spike length: 4.5 to 5.0 em Fruiting branch leaf breadth: 4.0 to 4.1 em Main shoot leaf breadth: 4.7 to 5 em Leaf petiole length (fruiting branch) 2.0 t02.2 Peduncle length: 2.1 to 2.2 em Spiking branch leaf breadth: 4.3to 4.5em Main shoot leaf breadth: 4.3 to 4.5 em Leaf petiole length (fruiting branch) 2.0 to 2.2 Peduncle length: 2.0 to 2.2 em 64 References Gamble J S 1925 Flora of Presidency of Madras. Vo1.2. Botanical Survey of India, Calcutta. Hooker J D 1886 The Flora of British India. Vol.V (Rep.1973). Reprinted by Mis. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, New Connaught Place, Saji et aJ.·' Derhradun & Mis. Periodical Experts 42-D " Vivek Vihar, Delhi - 110 032. Ravindran P N, Asokan Nair R, Nirmal Babu K ~ Chandran K & Nair M K 1990 Ecological and: morphological notes on Piper spp from Silent Valley forests of Kerala. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Society. 87 (3) : 421-426. '1 , ',j 

Piper hapnium : A rare Piper species from Peruvannamuzhi, Kerala - A new report

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Piper hapnium : A rare Piper species from Peruvannamuzhi, Kerala - A new report

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