Black pepper, scientifically known as Piper nigrum, is a flowering vine in the Piperaceae family, cultivated for its fruit,...plusBlack pepper, scientifically known as Piper nigrum, is a flowering vine in the Piperaceae family, cultivated for its fruit, the peppercorn. When dried, peppercorns become black pepper, while green and white pepper variants are produced through different processing methods, all from the same plant.