Piper methysticum ‘Bright Eyes’ is a cultivar of Piper methysticum G.Fors, also known as 'Kava'. It is a perennial or rhizomatous geophyte that boast glossy, green foliage with; striking golden yellow markings in the leaf's center. Its foliage is light green when juvenile and darkens, as the plant matures.
It grows upright and reaches a height of 4,5m. This botanical wonder, c is dioecious, meaning it has separate male and female plants. While male plants produce small creamy white flowers in the form of short cylindrical spikes, female plants rarely bloom. The origins of kava are shrouded in mystery, as it thrives on several South Pacific islands. Throughout the region, the roots of this plant have been used for centuries in various herbal and medicinal preparations. One such preparation is a sedative beverage known as kava, which is now commercially available in bottles.
Kava, a cash crop in Vanuatu and Fiji, is widely known for its relaxing and stress-relieving properties that don't compromise mental alertness. Moreover, it holds significance in both ceremonial rituals and social gatherings as a symbol of friendship. The roots of the kava plant contain kavalactones, which possess sedative and anesthetic qualities. To prepare the beverage, the roots are ground or pounded into a fine powder and mixed with water.
Specific epithet means intoxicating.;
Specific epithet means intoxicating.
Genus name: Latin piper, form Ancient Greek πέπερι (péperi, “pepper”), form Sanskrit पिप्पलि (pippali, “Piper longum”).
Piper methysticum ‘Bright Eyes’
Piper methysticum ‘Bright Eyes’ is ca. 10-15 cm tall and comes in a ø 6 cm pot.