Macropiper excelsum

Description

Macropiper excelsum subsp. psittacorum, commonly known as pepper tree or kava, is a flowering plant in the pepper family. The subspecific epithet means “of the parrots”, inferring a liking by parrots for the fruits. it is a shrub growing to 1.5 m in height. The alternate, aromatic, heart-shaped leaves are usually 80–110 mm long and 80–110 mm wide. The tiny, apetalous flowers, borne on separate male and female inflorescences, appear from July to September. The small, fleshy, orange fruits, 12–14 mm long and sweet when ripe, are produced in December and January