Hovrtuynia.] ARISTOLOCHIACE. 45. 
It is found in gardens within the area of this flora, and the very 
bitter roots, like those of A. bracteata, are used medicinally. 
Several exotic species are grown in Indian gardens as ornamental 
plants, notably some from Brazil with curious and highly coloured 
flowers. 
_ —- ——_ —_- 
XCIV.—PIPERACEZ. 
Herbs or shrubs, usually aromatic. Leaves alternate opposite: 
or whorled, entire, gland-dotted ; stipules none or 2, connate or 
adnate to the petiole. Flowers minute, 1- or 2-sexual, in axillary 
or terminal catkin-like spikes, subtended by a peltate bract. 
Perianth none. Stamens 2-6, rarely 7-8, hypogynous ; anthers 
often jointed on the filaments, the cells sometimes confluent and 
bursting longitudinally. Ovary of 3 or 4 carpels free or connate at 
the base, each with many ovules, or ovary 1-celled with a solitary 
orthotropous ovule ; stigmas distinct on the free carpels or ovary- 
lobes, or terminal on the undivided ovary, occasionally solitary, 
sessile, simple or penicillate. Fruit small, indehiscent, or of cocci 
or follicles. Seeds globose, ovoid or oblong, testa thin ; albumen 
copious, floury, embryo enclosed in an amniotic cavity at the end 
of the albumen remote from the hilum, cotyledons minute or 
obsolete, radicle superior.—Species over 1,000, in tropical and 
sub-tropical regions, chiefly American. 
Flowers 2-sexual ; ovary of 3 or 4 free or connate 
carpels ‘ : ; . 1. Hourruynta. 
Flowers usually dicecious ; ovary l-celled . 2. PIPER. 
1. HOUTTUYNIA, Thunb. ; Fl. Brit. Ind. v, 78. 
Perennial herbs. Leaves alternate, usually cordate; stipules: 
broad, membranous. Spikes terminal and leaf-opposed, pedun- 
cled, dense, usually with an involucre of 4-6 white petaloid bracts. 
Flowers minute. Perianth none. Stamens 3-6, filaments adnate at 
the base to the ovary, anthers oblong. Ovary of 3-4 partially con- 
nate l-celled carpels ; styles free, erect, stigmatose on the inner 
surface ; ovules many, on parietal placentas. Fruit subglobose, 
bursting between the styles. Seeds many, globose, testa membran- 
