Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Black pepper (Piper nigrum) is known as the "King of Spices."
Botanically, the fruit of black pepper is a small, single-seeded drupe borne on a pendulous spike.
Recognizing the commercial and botanical terminology of spice commodities is essential.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us analyze the terms associated with the black pepper plant:
- Peppercorn: When the mature but unripe green drupes of black pepper are harvested, blanched, and sun-dried, the skin (exocarp) shrinks and turns black and wrinkled.
These dried, black, spherical drupes are commercially and globally referred to as peppercorns.
- Pepper Berry: Refers to the fresh, juicy, green or red raw drupes still attached to the plant or newly harvested, before the drying process.
- Pepper Spike: The botanical inflorescence or fruiting axis upon which the individual pepper berries are arranged.
- Pepper Leaf: The broad, cordate, green leaves of the Piper nigrum vine, which are not used as the primary spice.
Therefore, the dried drupe of black pepper is called a peppercorn.
Step 3: Final Answer:
A dried drupe of black pepper is known as a pepper corn.