94 -© CXXIV. PIPERACEE. (J. D. Hooker.) | 0 [Piper. 
in Hook. Lond. Journ. Bot. v. 555; quite glabrous, shrubby, branches 
terete, leaves petioled membranous or coriaceous lanceolate or elliptic- or 
ovate-lanceolate acuminate sometimes silvery beneath 5-nerved above the 
base, nerves distant alternate, base acute often oblique, male spikes very 
slender, peduncles longer than the petioles, fruiting spike 3-6 in., bracts 
usually decurrent with raised margins, scars naked or ciliate. Cas. DC. in 
Prodr. xvi. 1. 865; Wight Ic. t. 1941. P. Malamiri, Wall. Cat. 6642 
E, F, I. P. Wightii, Mig. in Hook. Lond. Journ. l. c. 552, in part. 
Deccan PENINSULA, Heyne; Travancore Mts., Wight. CEYLON; in the central 
province. . 
Some states of this appear to differ from P. Hymenophyllum only in being glabrous, 
others have the much more coriaceous foliage of other forms, and the leaves are nor- 
mally more white] beneath. There is so much variation in the development of the 
bracts that possibly there is more than one species here. The following appear to me 7 
to be probably varieties of this. 
1. P. argyrophyllum proper; leaveslong 4—6 by 11-2 in. whitish beneath, petiole 
nearly 1 in., peduncle very ‘slender, fruiting spike 1-23 in., rachis very slender 
glabrous, bracts almost confluent with the rachis, fruit small 2 in. diam. Wall. Cat. 
6642 F.—This was sent to Wallich by Wight, but I find no specimen in the Herba- 
rium of the latter. There are, however, good ones in Arnott’s Herbarium. 
2. Leaves smaller shorter petioled more elliptic sometimes bullate not white 
beneath, frniting spikes 5-7 in, rachis slender, bracts with raised margins, 
scars distant with fimbriate edges, young fruit oblong subtruncate with a distinct 
style globose when ripe. Wall. Cat. 6642 E, I.—Courtallam, Wight. Concan?, 
tocks. 
3. Leaves elliptic more coriaceous less acuminate not white beneath, bracts with 
conspicuous sinuate raised margins which embrace the bases of the young fruits, ripe 
fruit globose in. diam. P. nepalense, Wight Ic. t. 1938 (not of Miquel).—Cour- 
tallam, in dense forests.— This resembles P. sylvestre in the form of the leaf, and P. 
Wightii in their texture. 
4. Leaves coriaceous 3-5 by 14-2} in. elliptic-lanceolate acuminate bullate 
above silvery beneath, nerves stronger more distant, petiole 3 in., fruiting spikes 
4-6 in., bracts with raised sinuate margins, fruit large “yellow” (Clarke). P. 
.argyrophyllum, Thwaites Enum. 293.— Nilghiri Hills, alt. 7000 ft., Clarke. Ceylon 
(C.P. 3625).— This should perhaps be referred to P. Wightii, but the alternate 
nerves are very constant. » 
9. Leaves much smaller 2-23 by 1 in. elliptic-lanceolate, petiole short 1 in. 
fruiting spikes 1-2 in. slender, rachis slender, bracts with hardly raised margins, 
, scars ciliate, fruit J in. diam.—Nilghiri or Kurg Hills, @. Thomson.—This very small 
form a little resembles P. Ahasianum. 
6. Leaves thinly coriaceous elliptic-lanceolate or oblong ovate silvery or not 
beneath, fruiting spikes 2—7 in., bracts with raised sinuate margins, rachis rather | 
slender, fruit globose 3 in. diam. P. Walkeri, Mig. in Hook. Lond. Journ. Bot. iv. 
439; Cas. DC. l. c. 3362. P. arborescens, Thwaites Enum, 993, excl. syn.— Ceylon, 
Walker, Thwaites (C. P. 35 in part, and 2461).—I do not find the minute hairs 
described by Miquel. 
43, P. Wightii, Mig. in Hook. Lond. Journ. Bot. v. 552, in part; 
quite glabrous, branches stout terete, leaves petióled coriaceous broadly 
ovate or orbicular rarely elliptic or oblong often glaucous beneath base: 
rounded or cordate rarely acute 5-7-nerved near the base spikes 2-3 im. 
stout, braets with prominent sinuate margins. Wight Te. t. 1939 (P. 
Wightiana on plate). P. nigrum, Wall. Cat. 6643 D, the upper right-hand 
specimen only. ; 
erin ILE TENURE Hits, Wight, &c. 
e robust habit, broader leaves with stronger more basal t * petioles 
and often stouter fruiting-spikes with almost winged bracts, best diet aueh this 
