Piperaceae FAMILY

Piper methysticum

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

3/5

Safety & Hazards

Used in excess, the root can cause stupor[ 238 Title Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Publication Author Bown. D. Publisher Dorling Kindersley, London. Year 1995 ISBN 0-7513-020-31 Description A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant. ].

Botanical Description

Kava kava is a much-branched shrub growing up to 4 metres tall. The plant produces several stems 1 - 3cm in diameter from a large, thick, woody rhizome[ 303 Title World Agroforesty Centre Publication Author Website http://www.worldagroforestry.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc. , 339 Title Agroforestry in the Pacific Islands: Systems for Sustainability Publication Author W.C. Clarke and R.R. Thaman (Editors) Website http://www.unu.edu/unupress/unupbooks/80824e/80824E00.htm#Contents Publisher United Nations University Press, Tokyo Year 1993 ISBN 92-808-0824-9 Description The guide includes information on 100 species of plants for Agroforestry. It is also available on the web at the address given above. ]. The plant is a herb with major ritual and cultural significance in the Pacific Islands where it is widely used in social ceremonies and as a means of communicating with the Gods[ 254 Title The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Publication Author Chevallier. A. Publisher Dorling Kindersley. London Year 1996 ISBN 9-780751-303148 Description An excellent guide to over 500 of the more well known medicinal herbs from around the world. ]. Often harvested from the wild, it is also cultivated, especially in home gardens in the Pacific[ 339 Title Agroforestry in the Pacific Islands: Systems for Sustainability Publication Author W.C. Clarke and R.R. Thaman (Editors) Website http://www.unu.edu/unupress/unupbooks/80824e/80824E00.htm#Contents Publisher United Nations University Press, Tokyo Year 1993 ISBN 92-808-0824-9 Description The guide includes information on 100 species of plants for Agroforestry. It is also available on the web at the address given above. ]. The plant is commonly sold in local markets, and is also exported to Europe, America etc where it is used medicinally.

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeNorthwest and southwest Pacific Islands.

HabitatDamp areas such as near streams, from near sea-level to 800 metres[ 311 Title Medicinal Plants in the South Pacific Publication Author Publisher WHO Regional Publications, Manilla. Year 1998 ISBN 92-9061-118-9 Description Excellent guide to 102 medicinal herbs of the Pacific Islands, with photographs of each plant and details of their constituents, biological activities and traditional uses. A description of each plant, together with habitat and distribution is given. ].