Piper. DIANDRIA TRIGYNJA. 161 



Stems erect, from six to eighteen inches high, ramous at top, 

 jointed, and smooth. Sarmentose shoots of a great length, 

 issuing in abundance from the top of the root, and the lower 

 part of the stem, by which the plant is quickly propagated to 

 any extent. Leaves alternate, the lower ones petioled, broad, 

 re-entering, cordate ; the upper ones sub-sessile, obliquely-ob- 

 long; all are smooth on both sides, and shining on the upper 

 one. Aments solitary, opposite to the leaves, short-peduncled, 

 oblong, very small, being rarely more than a quarter of an 

 inch long. Germs oval, one celled ; ovulum one attached by 

 the base to the bottom of the cell. Fruit compound, sub-cy- 

 lindrie, about the size of an infant's finger, when ripe softish, 

 and of a dark green or livid colour. Berries numerous, most 

 of the germs prove abortive, one-celled. Seed solitary, oval, 

 attached to the bottom of the cell. Integuments single, thin, 

 light brown. Perisperm conform to the seed, friable. Em- 

 bryo shape of a small broad inverted cone lodged in the apex 

 of the perisperm. Radicle superior. 



17. P. angusiij'olinm. R. 



Scandent, or creeping, smooth. Leaves sessile, obliquely- 

 lanceolate, very smooth. Aments leaf-opposed, short-pedun- 

 cled. 



A native of the Malay Archipelago. 



18. P. saxatile. Wall. 



Stems furrowed, creeping, with villous joints and fascicled 

 sub-erect branches. Leaves sub-sessile quatern, obovate- 

 cuneate, fleshy, convex and villous beneath, with three co- 

 loured nerves, veinless. Spike terminal, filiform, elongated, 

 peduncled. 



A native of the neighbourhood of Katmandu in Na paler, 

 where it grows on rocks and blossoms during the first four 

 months of the year. A«small succulent, probably annual spe- 

 cies, which creeps to a considerable extent, sending forth 

 fascicled, sometimes single, opposite or alternate branches 



VOL. I. k 



