New species of pepper plant found in Xizang

Local authorities reported on Tuesday that a new species of pepper plant had been discovered in Metog county of Southwest China's Xizang autonomous region.

China is a significant distribution area for Piper genus plants, with approximately 65 recorded species mainly located in the southwestern and southern China regions.

While surveying spice and beverage plants from 2021 to 2023, researchers from the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences came across an unknown species of the Piper genus in Metog.