Embelia ribes, commonly known as false black pepper or white-flowered embelia, is a perennial climbing shrub native to the understory of semi-evergreen to evergreen forests in South and Southeast Asia. It is also found in open forest areas and along forest edges where it receives dappled sunlight. This species typically grows to a height of 3-10 feet (1-3 meters) with a similar spread. The plant features slender, flexible stems and simple, alternate leaves. The small, white flowers bloom in clusters and are followed by spherical, peppercorn-like fruits that turn red when ripe.

False black pepper is valued for its medicinal properties, particularly the compound embelin from its berries, which is used in traditional Ayurvedic and Siddha medicine. The plant is cultivated for its berries, which are harvested and dried for therapeutic use. In cultivation, Embelia ribes thrives in partial shade with moderate water requirements and well-drained soil. It is not commonly used in ornamental gardening but is significant in herbal and medicinal gardens. Care should be taken to control its spread, as it can become invasive outside its native range.CC BY-SA 4.0