Croton membranaceus seedlings

Black pepper consists of the dried matured fruits of Piper guineense. A twisted, perennial vine that grows up to 12m high on trees. The plant is a popular spice in Africa, where it is often harvested from the wild, semi-cultivated and sometimes also cultivated for use both as a spice and also as a medicine. The fruits and leaves are used fresh and dried as components of medicinal preparations. The roots are chewed and the juice swallowed as an aphrodisiac