• Plants (Kingdom Plantae)

• Vascular Plants (Phylum Tracheophyta)

• Flowering Plants (Subphylum Angiospermae)

• Dicots (Class Magnoliopsida)

• Pepper Plants, Birthworts, and Allies (Order Piperales)

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Order Piperales is an ancient lineage of flowering plants (angiosperms) comprising approximately 4,500 species distributed mainly throughout tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate regions of the world. Members include herbs, shrubs, vines, and small trees that occupy habitats ranging from tropical rainforests and cloud forests to temperate woodlands. Ecologically, members of the order provide food, shelter, and specialized habitats for numerous insects and other wildlife, while economically they are important sources of spices, ornamental plants, traditional medicines, and botanical research materials.