PIPER. 



Blume in the island of Java, in a marsh between the mountains 

 of Burangrang and Tankuwang Prahu. 



Stems shrubby, much branched, running along the ground or climbinf 

 to a great height, throwing out roots from the numerous joints. Leaves 

 alternate, distichous, cordate-ovate, oblique at the base, acuminated, 

 4 to 7 inches long, glabrous, 5 to 7-nerved; nerves connected by trans- 

 verse veins, the veins and nerves prominent beneath : petioles rounded, 

 grooved on the upper side, while young having a pair of lanceolate 

 stipides, which are deciduous. Spikes opposite the leaves, peduncled, 

 at first shorter than the leaf, slender, cylindrical, tapering, in fruit 

 greatly enlarged, pendent. Scales dense, peltate ; stigma sessile di- 

 vided. The plant is said to be dicecious. — Leaf chewed by the Malays 

 with lime and slices of the nut of Areca oleracea or the Pinano-. It 

 produces intoxicating effects, stimulates powerfully the salivary glands, 

 and digestive organs, and diminishes the perspiration of the skin. A 

 copious account of this by Sir W. Hooker in Bot. Mag. 1. c. 



643. P. methysticum Forst. prodr. n. 21. plant, esc. austr. 76. 

 — Society, Friendly and Sandwich islands where it is called 

 " Ava. " 



Leaves cordate, acuminate, many-nerved. Spikes axillary, solitary, 

 very short, pedunculated, spreading. — Rhizoma thick, woody, rugged, 

 aromatic. Used in tincture against chronic rheumatism. Macerated 

 in water it forms an intoxicating beverage, of which the Otaheitans 

 make use to cure venereal affections ; they make themselves drunk, 

 after which very copious perspiration comes on ; this lasts three days, at 

 the end of which time we are told that the patient is cured. 



643 a. P. reticulatum Linn. sp. pi. 40. VahL enum. i. 330. 

 Dietrich sp. pi. i. 691. — West Indies, and Brazil. 



Stem as high as a man, erect. Branches compressed, smooth, with 

 knotty joints. Leaves large, cordate, acuminate, 5-9-nerved, very 

 smooth, reticulated ; petioles amplexicaul, half an inch long, channelled 

 above. Peduncles shorter than the petioles. Spikes 5-6 inches lone, 

 the thickness of a goose quill. — The roots of this plant, called Jabo- 

 randi in Brazil (and in a less degree the ripe catkins) are used as 

 stimulants on account of their aromatic pungent qualities. The root 

 is a very powerful sialagogue, and often cures nervous toothach. 

 The leaves bruised are applied with success to the bite of serpents. 



644. P. Cubeba Linn, suppl. 90. N. and E. handb. i. 102. 

 Blume in act. bat. xi. 200. f. 21. — Java and Prince of Wales's 

 island. 



Stem climbing ; branches round, the thickness of a goose-quill, ash- 

 coloured, smooth, rooting at the joints ; when very young as well as 

 the petioles minutely downy. Leaves 4-6J inches long, li-2 inches 

 broad, stalked, oblong, or ovate-oblong, acuminate, rounded or obliquely 

 cordate at base, strongly veined, netted, coriaceous, very smooth. 

 Spikes at the end of the branches, opposite the leaves, dicecious, on 

 peduncles the length of the petioles. Fruit rather longer than black pep- 

 per, globose, on pedicels from i to J inch long. — This is the P. Cubeba 

 of the Linnaean Herbarium, and is readily known from the next by the 

 leaves being coriaceous, smooth, and shining, with the veins proceeding 

 from the side of the midrib, not from its base. Dr. Wallich distributed 

 313 



