344 PIPERACE^. 



numerous. Female spikes /4 inch, erect, in fruit J4 inch, 

 t. 228. Wight Ic. t. 1931 (Clavica sph^rostachya). 



Nilgiris : Ootacamund, Lovedale, Kotagiri (abundant in 

 Longwood shola, flowering chiefly in May and June). Pulneys : 

 near Kodaikanal in sholas below the Church Cliff and Pambar 

 House. Fp07i 383, 1885, 1814, 1750. 1867, 1755, 1757. 

 Bourne 269, 2374. 



Piper schmidtii Hook. /. (ms. at Kew !) ; F.B.I, v 89, 

 II 30 ; hicluding P. wightii Miq., F.B.I, v 94. Stems as 

 thick as the finger. Leaves alternate in a one-fourth 

 spiral, each opposed by a spike or the scar of one : stalk 

 ^ toM inch, curved always to bring the blade horizontal. 

 Blade ovate-elliptic, often lop-sided; upper side dark 

 green and glossy ; lower very pale to white ; quite firm or 

 coriaceous. Nerves one pair from near the base, another 

 pair from further up on the midrib, occasionally another 

 fainter marginal pair from near the base : venation a 

 coarse network, impressed on the upper side, prominently 

 raised on the lower. Male spikes i to 3 inches, with 

 stalk of ^ to J4 inch, pendent : bracts circular with free 

 margin : stamens usually two, with thick filaments and 

 anthers opening by vertical cross slits. Female spikes 

 2 to 3 inches ; in fruit longer, curved more or less and 

 even spirally twisted : bracts oblong with raised margin, 

 free all round. Berries red or yellow, t. 229. 



Nilgiris : near Ootacamund. Pulneys : near Kodaikanal 

 the common Pepper of these levels. Fyson 1704, 1746, 1936, 

 1754, 2444, 2592, 2636. Bourne 107, 270, 1745. 



Piper nigrum Linn. ; F.B.I, v 90, II 34 ; common 

 Pepper. Male and female spikes both long and slender: 

 bracts oblong decurrent on the spike and free only at 

 the upper end, in fruit cup-shaped. Leaves ovate-acute, 

 coriaceous, quite glabrous : nerves one pair of opposite 

 ones near the base, two others not opposite from higher 



