152 DIANDRIA TRIGYN1A. Piper. 



Stamens none. Germ sessile, globose^ immersed in the sub- 

 stance of the anient. Style none. Stir/ma three-lobed, white, 

 glandular. Pericarp, a small, round, red, somewhat fleshy 

 berry. Seed one, globose. 



Obs. When 1 described the three vines included in this one 

 species, 1 had not seen Piper nigrum, and took it for granted 

 that this was it ; but as soon as 1 had an opportunity of see- 

 ing that famous plant, I was immediately convinced that they 

 were distinct species. In trioicum, the leaves have a glaucous 

 appearance, which readily distinguishes it from P. nigrum, 

 which has shining dark green leaves. 



This vine I have found wild amongst the chain of mountains 

 directly north from Coringa, in the Raja-mundri Circar. It 

 delights iu a moist, rich soil, well shaded with trees; to them 

 it adheres most firmly, by means of the roots which issue 

 from the joints. Flowering time, in their wild state, during 

 the latter part of the wet season, September and October. 

 The pepper ripens in March. With me, in a cultivated state, 

 they flower almost all the year round, but chiefly during the 

 fore mentioned period. 



I have not met with any author, or any sort of information, 

 that could lead me to think black pepper was the produce of 

 a dicecous plant, (male and female on distinct vines,) till upon 

 examination, 1 found it was so. Attention to this circum- 

 stance will, 1 think, render the culture of pepper much more 

 certain, and successful, viz. by planting to each prop tree a 

 male and female plant, the male on the sides from whence 

 the most prevailing wind blows; and the female on the 



other. 



The veoetable world is full of proofs that the sexual 

 system of the immortal Linnaeus is (ounded on the soundest 

 principles ; and not a single plant have 1 ever found in 

 India, that does not corroborate this fact. The Arabians 

 from time immemorial knew, that to render the female date- 

 tree prolific, it was necessary to bring it in contact with the 

 male,; which they do by making a slit in the spathe of the 



