Piper nigrum belongs to the family Piperaceae. The family is dicotyledonous, but the stem has characteristic lines intermediate between those of the dicotyledons and the monocotyledons, i.e. the vascular bundles lie in two or more circles. The stem is usually swollen at the nodes. Numerous adventitious roots, known as clinging or climbing roots, are produced from the nodes.Chilli also called red pepper, is an important cash crop in India and is grown for its pungent fruits, which are used both green and ripe the latter in the dried form to impart pungency to the food. As a condiment, it has become indispensible in every in every Indian home. It is also used medicinally, and in chutnies and pickles. The pungency is due to the active principle capsicin contained in the skin and the septa of the fruit. Introduced from tropical South America in the seventeenth century, it is now grown in all parts of India covering about 7,33,800 hectares. Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu account for about 75 per cent of the total area and annual production.

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