THE PEPPER FAMILY 



135 



ordinary plants, proper roots in the ground. If these are cut, 

 the plant withers, unless, on its way up the tree towards the 

 light, the plant has found nourishing earth in the crevices and 

 holes of the tree, in which case, the clinging roots may become 

 feeding roots, changing their function. 



2. The Leaves are alternate, stipulate, ovate, entire, and 

 have three or more basal nerves, which stand out prominently 

 at the lower surface. 



The wood of many climbing plants is not arranged in con- 

 centrical continuous cylindrical tubes, as it is in the case of most 

 other plants (see Teak tree, page 

 109). In the Pepper plant the 

 woody tissue of its stem is sepa- 

 rated by broad medullary rays 

 into wedge-shaped masses. 



3. Flower and Fruit. — When 

 the plant has ascended the tree, 

 and so reached a point where it 

 gets more light, its stem leaves the 

 trunk of the tree, and produces no 

 more adventitious roots, but forms 

 flower-buds opposite the leaves. 

 The flowers are arranged on leaf- 

 opposed (see Grape Vine, p. 22), 

 hanging spikes, and are very small, 

 without any regular calyx or 

 corolla. They are unisexual, i. e., 

 bear either stamens or pistils, but 

 not both together. Besides, one 

 plant has only staminate, and an- 

 other only pistillate flowers. Such plants are called dioecious. 

 The staminate flowers have two stamens only, and the pistillate 

 ones have a one-celled and one-seeded ovary. The fruit is a 

 berry which becomes red when ripe. Seed endospermous, 



• 4. Use. — The plant is grown for the fruit, which is used as 

 a condiment. Black pepper is the unripe, dried berries; white 

 pepper, the same allowed to ripen, with the pulpy coat removed. 



Fig-. 123. — The Pepper Vine 

 {Piper nigrum). 



