As its common name implies, this Pepper becomes giant, as it climbs and scrambles across hillsides and up other trees and plants. The climbing stems of the Giant Pepper Vine (Piper novae-hollandiae) may reach up to 230 feet in length!
The Giant Pepper Vine is too vigorous for the typical home garden, but may be useful for large parks, and also indoors where its growth can be controlled.
The Giant Pepper Vine attracts birds who like to feed on its fruits and is found commonly among the wet forests of eastern Australia, its native range.
The Giant Pepper Vine is in the pepper family and produces a fruit that is edible with peppery seeds that have been used as bush food.
The Aboriginal people in Australia chewed the leaves as stimulants, to relieve sore gums, and as a general health tonic.
The Giant Pepper Vine was also used for treating skin disorders and sexually transmitted diseases in colonial times, as it has a stimulating effect on the mucus membranes.
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