AND COMPLETE HERBAL. 405 
Gs GUINEA,.PEPPER. 
‘Kinps anp Names. THERE are many forts thereof found out and brought to 
our knowledge in thefe Jatter days. Gregorius de Riggio, a Capuchin Friar, 
maketh mention of adozen feveral forts, or varieties at the leaft, in the fruit or cods; 
though in any thing elfe very little differing: there are likewife fome other varieties, 
eardta by Clufius and others. 
’ Description. The moft ordinary Guinea pepper with long hufks, Capficum majus 
 vulgatius oblongis filiquis.. By this you may frame the defcription of all the reft, the 
main difference confifting in the form of the fruit, whether husk or cods. This plant 
rifeth up with an upright firm round ftalk, with a certain pith within them, rifing 
about two feet hich in this country, and not exceeding three feet in any other hotter 
climate, {preading into many branches on all fides, even from thevery bottom, which 
divide themfelves again into other fmaller branches, at each joint, whereof come 
long leaves upon fhort footftalks, fomewhat bigger than thofe of nightthade, with 
divers veins in them, not dented about the edges at al], and of adark green colour; 
the flowers ftand feverally at the joints, with leaves like the flowers of nightthade, 
confifting moft ufually of five, and fometimes fix, white {mall-pointed leaves, ftand- 
“ing open like a ftar ; with a few yellow threads in the middle,. after which come the 
fruit, either great or fmall, long or fhort, round or fquare, as the kind is, either ftand- 
" ing upright or hanging down, as their flowers thew themfelves either of this or that 
form; in this, about three inches in length, thick and round at the ftalk, and fmaller 
towards the end, which is not fharp, but round pointed, green at the firft,. but, when 
full ripe; of a very deep fhining crimfon colour ; on the outfide of which is a thick 
skin) and: white on the infide, of a {weet pleafant {mell, having many flat yellow feeds 
therein, cleaving to certain thin skins within it, which are broad at the upper end and 
“narrow at the lower, leaving the end or point empty within, not reaching fo far; the 
husk or feed of which is of fo hot and fiery a tafte, as to inflame and ‘ed the 
mouth and throat for a long time after it is chewed, and almoft. ready to choak one 
‘that taketh much at a time thereof: the root is compofed of a great tuft or bufh of 
‘threads, which fpreads plentifully on the eee vilbeied evenin hot countries 
afer’ it hath ripened all its fruit. 
- ‘Phere are nineteen other forts of Guinea pepper. all which, except the undermen- 
tioned, differ fo little from that already deferibed, as not to be worth expl : 
Guinea pepper with hairy ftalks, cap/cum caule pilofo. This groweth with greem 
— ftalks, fet full of white hairs, contrary to all other forts ; at the branches come : 
Shin ‘forth 
