134 DICOTYLEDONS 



is observed now and then: the growth of a Sandalwood tree is af- 

 fected when a tree in its vicinity is felled, which shows that the 

 Sandalwood tree has lost a source of its nourishment. 



4. 



3. Leaves and Flowers. — Loranthiis lomjiflorus is the 

 commonest of the numerous Indian species of this genus, and 

 it is frequently found on Mango trees. Its leaves are leathery, 

 opposite, and extremely variable in shape, the side-nerves being 

 obscure. Flowers long, in one-sided racemes. Calyx short and 

 truncate. Corolla curved, long-tubed; tube scarlet, or orange, 

 or pink; lobes five, linear, retlexed, green or yellow. Stamens 

 inserted on the petals, opposite to them, with linear anthers. 

 Ovary inferior, one-celled with one ovule. Fruit a pulpy berry, 

 crowned by the calyx. 



Lorantlms lageniferus is a species that sends out serial roots 

 which creep along the branches of the foster-plant and form 

 suckers. The flowers of this species are supported by coloured, 

 bell-shaped involucres. 



31. The Pepper Family 



(Piperaceae). 



Aromatic herbs or shrubs. Leaves entire. Flowers achlamydeous, 

 minute, in catkin-like spikes. Ovary one-celled. Seeds endospermous. 



The Pepper Vine (Piper nir/rum). 



(Kan. Ollemeaasina-balli. Mai. Kuru-raulagu. Tam. Milagu. Tel. Savyarau. 



Hind. Kala-mirici.) 



1. This is a large Climber requiring the support of other 

 trees. It climbs, however, not like the Bean by winding round 

 its supporter, or like the Cucumber by using tendrils for this 

 purpose, l)ut with the help of small clinging roots which grow 

 from the swollen nodes of the slender zigzag stems, winding 

 round their support like little cords, and contract after some 

 time so that the climber is drawn close to the tree, and fastened 

 to it, as with a thousand little fingers. They do not penetrate 

 into the tree, and hence the Pepper vine is not a parasite. 

 Besides these adventitious roots, the Feppor vines have, like 



