5o6 



A TEXT-BOOK OF BOTANY. 



FIG. 281. Black pepper (Piper nigriiiri), a climbing shrub growing in Botanic Gardens, 

 Port of Spain, Trinidad. The illustration shows the ovate-elliptical leaves, opposite which 

 are the fruiting spikes, which when ripe are of a yellowish-red color. The plant has been 

 introduced into many tropical countries and is not infrequently seen in botanic gardens 

 throughout the civilized world. Reproduced by permission of The Philadelphia Commercial 

 Museum. 



species of Piper are used in tropical America similarly to Piper 

 angnsti folium. 



The leaves of a number of species of Piper (known as " betel 



