PEPEROMIA. 



many-nerved, smooth, with pellucid dots. Petioles and peduncles 

 shaggy. Spikes in umbels, 3-4 together. — The roots of this plant 

 (the Periparaba, of Rio de Janeiro and S. Paul's, Caapeba, in Minas 

 Geraes) have a distinguished place among the domestic remedies of 

 Brazil. They have been used with great effect in obstructions of the 

 abdominal organs, which, together with general debility, are a frequent 

 consequence of intermitting fevers. They increase the activity of the 

 lymphatic system in particular, produce a speedy effect, and promote 

 all the secretions. The leaves are often prescribed as tea, for swellings 

 of the glands. Martius travels, ii. 93. 



647 a. P. peltata Dietrich sp. pi. i. 142. or Piper peltatum 

 Linn. syst. veg. 75. The fruit of this plant, called Caa-peba or 

 Broad-leaf in Brazil, is used in decoction as a powerful diuretic. 

 Martius. 



315 



