Mr. Thompson's Account of some new Species of Piper. 201 



and imbricated, but in others, particularly the herbaceous spe- 

 cies, more open and lax. The flowers, separately examined, 

 consist of an inferior scale, a roundish germen, and two stamina, 

 without the least vestige of a calyx or corolla*. There is no 

 style, but three minute stigmata not easily distinguishable by 

 the naked eye, and the anthers are for the most part sessile ; but 

 I cannot be led to think that the filament is entirely wanting in 

 any of the species. Notwithstanding the obvious simplicity of 

 this structure, an attempt has been made in the Flora Peruviana 

 (amongst a variety of others) to form the herbaceous species 

 into a new genus, under the name of Peperomia. Where this 

 rage will stop it is impossible to predict; and I conceive it to be 

 the duty of every disciple of Linnaeus to oppose such innova- 

 tions, as they cannot fail to produce obscurity and confusion 

 where all was nature and simplicity. The least possible devia- 

 tion in any one particular must now be considered sufficient to 

 authorise the formation of a new genus ; and even the slightest 

 difference of habit alone is frequently thought to afford ample 

 reason for these arbitrary separations. In the present instance, 

 to say more would be to allow that there were grounds for such 

 a change where none really exist. I shall therefore content my- 

 self with giving the diagnostic characters, as submitted in the 

 Flora Peruviana, and shall leave every person to decide for him- 

 self, confident that no true botanist will dissent from my opinion. 

 " Differt hoc genus a Pipere Linn, spathis ovatis, minimis : 

 prominentia minima sub flosculis singulis ; staminibus genuine 

 longioribus : stigmate puncto unico minimo, vel macula/' 



* In Woodville's Medical Botany a representation of Piper nigrum is given, with 

 an imaginary dissection of the corolla, directly in opposition to the description which 

 accompanies it. 



vol. ix. 2 d The 



