528 cvii. riPEi?ACE-T;, 



Piper Betle, Linn. Sp. PL (17;')3) p. 28. A perennial dioecious climber 

 probably a native of Java, widely cultivated for its leaf throughout the 

 Presidency, suj^plying the \^'ell-knovvn Pcin or betel-leaf which is chewed 

 almost universally by the natives. The plants (vines) are supported in 

 the betle-gardens on quick-growing trees or shrubs, such as Erythrina 

 indica (Pdngara) and Sesbania aegyptiaca (Sheivi-i). A very full descrip- 

 tion of the mode of cultivation &c. will be found in Watt's Diet. Ecou. 

 Prod. V. 0, part ], pp. 247-256. El. B. I. v. 5, p. 85; Grab. Cat. 

 p. 198 ; Dalz. & Gibs. Suppl. p. 84 ; Trim. El. Ceyl. v. 3, p. 425 ; 

 Woodr. in Journ. Bomb. Xat. v. 12 (1899) p. 3(30 & Gard. in Ind. 

 ed. 5, p. 445 ; Talb. Trees, Bomb. ed. 2, p. 279 ; Prain, Beng. PL p. 892 ; 

 Watt, Diet, Econ. Prod. v. 6, part 1, p. 247. Chavica Betle, Miq. Syst. 

 Pip. p. 28 ; AVight, Icon. t. 1920.— Veen. Ndgvel. 



Piper lonr/um, Linn. Sp. PL (1753) p. 29. The Long Pepper, a native 

 of the hotter parts of India but not indigenous in the Bombay Presi- 

 dency, though occasionally cultivated. Stems prostrate or ascending 

 (not climbing). Leaves cordate, glabrous, the lower with long petioles, 

 the upper sessile and stem-clasping. Eruit small, a'lout ^^j in. in diam., 

 blacldsh-green, sunk in the fleshy spike which is about 1 in. long. EL 

 B. I. v. 5, p. 83 ; Grab. Cat. p. 199 ; Dalz. & Gibs. Suppl. p. 84; Trim. 

 EL Ceyl. v. 3, p. 424 ; Talb. Trees, Bomb. ed. 2, p. 279 ; A\^oodr. in Journ. 

 Bomb. Nat. v. 12 (1899) p. 366 ; Prain, Beng. PL p. 892 ; Watt, Diet. 

 Econ. Prod. v. 6, part 1, p. 258. — Elowers : Oct.-Nov. Vern. Plpll. 



The dried unripe fruit and the root are much employed in native 

 medicine and no doubt possess valuable- medicinal properties. See 

 Watt, Diet. Econ. Prod. 1. c. 



2. PEPEROMIA, Euiz & Pav. 



Annual or perennial usually succulent herbs. Leaves opposite or 

 whorled (less commonly alternate), entire, pellucido-punctate ; stipules 0. 

 Elowers minute, hermaphrodite, sessile or sunk in the rhachis, often 

 whorled, erect, in terminal or leaf-opposed (rarely axillary), solitary or 

 fascicled spikes; bracts sessile, sometimes peltately attached. Perianth 0. 

 Stamens 2 ; filaments very short ; anther-cells confluent. Ovary 

 1-celled, obtuse, acute or beaked ; ovule solitary, erect ; stigma lateral 

 or terminal, usually penicillate. Eruit a minute indehiscent almost dry 

 berry or nutlet ; pericarp thin. Seed minute ; testa membranous ; 

 albumen floury. — Disxiiiu. Species about 400, chiefly tropical and 

 American. 



1. Peperomia Wightiana, Miq. in lloolc. Lond. Journ. Bot. v. 5 

 (1840) J). 548. A small succulent herb 3-8 in. high ; stems procumbent 

 ur ascending, rooting, shMider, glabrous or nearly so. Leaves subfleshy, 

 J-] J- by [|-1 in., alternate or opposite, the upper sometimes ternately 

 whorled, elliptic or obovate, sometimes suborbicular, obtuse, gland- 

 dotted, the margins more or less ciliolate near the tip, base acute or 

 rounded; nerves 3 from the base, somewhat obscure; petioles {-\\u. 

 long, slender. Elowers laxly arranged in slender pedunculate erect 

 spikes 1-;^ in. long, much exeeeding the It-aves ; spikes 1-3 togiilher, 

 usually terminal. Emit minute, globose, slightly rough. El. B. I. v. 5, 

 p. 98; Trim. V\. Ccvl. v. 3. p. 4;!l; AVoodr. in Journ. Homh. Nat. 



