New Species of Wild Black Pepper Plant Discovered
Posted on February 10, 2014
Biologists have discovered a new species of wild black pepper. It was found in the Andes mountains of Ecuador. The research team gave the species, Piper kelleyi, the nickname pink belly based on the pinkish undersides of the leaves (seen in the upper right).
The biologists say the new species is a mini biodiversity hotspot. It is home to 40 to 50 insect species. Many of the insects are entirely dependent on the host plant for survival.
The scientists have made nearly 30,000 observations of over 100 black pepper relatives over the past 20 years. They say the newly discovered species supports more specialized caterpillar and predator species than any other species in the black pepper family.
The research was published here in the journal, PhytoKeys.
