The plant is grown throughout India. It is a slender aromatic climber, rooting at nodes. The branches are swollen at the nodes and the leaves are alternate. The lower leaves are broad and the upper ones oblong.
Leaves have reticulate venation.
The plant flowers in solitary spikes. The fruits are berries, small and red and completely sunk in the fleshy spikes. The mature spikes are collected and dried and this is the commercial form of pippali. Uses Pippali finds usage in anorexia , indigestion , flatulence , cold , cough , bronchitis , and hiccups , fevers and stomach disorders. Lose one pound, Smoking costs.