Tasmannia lanceolata – Mountain Pepper seeds x5

This group of  ‘pepper’ plants once belonged to the genus Dimys but botanists have agreed that the South American family remain as Dimys and the Australian family undergo a name change to Tasmania. The Tasmanian’s grow from Tasmania into South East Queensland but always in a sub-alpine habitat above 1500 feet.

The plant known as Mountain Pepper (Tasmannia lanceolata) grows in sub-alpine conditions in New South Wales and Victoria and from sea level to mountain tops in cool, wet habitats in Tasmania. It is a shrub from 0.5 metres to 5 metres (depending on altitude and habitat) with dark green leaves and distinctive crimson stems. The plant is dioecious (separate male and female plants) and is one of the plant groups from the ancient Gondwanaland super-continent.

The leathery leaves contain a hot tasting compound (polygodial) which, together with other aromatic compounds commonly found in essential oil-bearing plants, gives a fragrant, spicy taste to meals. During the 19th century, Tasmannia species were considered as a pepper or all-spice substitute.

There is a small, but expanding, industry growing Mountain Pepper on a commercial basis.