Piper Subpeltatum ~*

Is an Australian native Piper species very similar to Piper Auritum. Had this about a year. Kept it inside over the last winter and it didn't do much. Put it out in a little greenhouse in spring and it went crazy. Hopefully it's big enough to survive winter outside, is a subtropical plant so I'm going to have my work cut out in semi arid. Likes alot of shade, humidity and water. Little crystals form on the leaves, which have a strong smell of Sassafras. The plants leaves contain safrole, which is touted to have a wide variety of medicinal uses including treatment for scurvy, skin sores, kidney problems, toothaches, rheumatism, swelling, menstrual disorders and sexually transmitted diseases, bronchitis, hypertension, and dysentery. It is also used as a fungicide, dentifrice, rubefacient, diaphoretic, perfume, carminative and sudorific. Has been reported to be carcinogenic in rats although no study I'm aware of has shown this in humans. But something to be aware of. The roots contain unique allylbenzenes. Really interesting plant :)