114. PIFEBACEM. [1. Piper. 



dense fleshy and often confluent into a cylindric fleshy red mass. 

 Peduncle 1-1-5". 



Cultivated (in panharh) in most districts, but especially Purneali and Orissa. 



Lowest strong pair of primary nerves (there is usually a weak pair below these) 

 extending two-thirds to three-fourths length of leaf, a strong pair of sub-primary 

 or secondaries reaches to or uearlj' to the apex, tertiaries numerous scalariform or 

 sometimes more reticulate, base of leaf rarely subcordate, usually oblique and 

 rounded or the lower side only rounded, the other obtuse or subacute. 



The leaves form the well-known masticatory with the addition of lime, catechu 

 and betle-palm nuts. To these are often added other aromatic flavouring ingre- 

 dients. Betle-leaf thus chewed acts as a gentle stimulant and exhilarant. The 

 leaves are also used as a domestic remedy in various ways (Duft, Mat, Mediea, 

 p. 245), 



Be Candolle {Prod., xvi, p. 359) describes a variety " siriboa" with the young 

 leaves and petioles pubescent. 



5. P. nigrum, L. Syn. P. trioicum, Roxb. ; Kali-mirich, Gol-mirich, 

 H., Beng. ; Chai, Cherwud, Or. (the wild plant) : Pepper. 

 A rather stout climber up to 20 ft. high, ridged on the branches. 

 Leaves 5-6" by 2-4" from broadlj^ lanceolate to broadly ovate, on 

 the same plant, acuminate, shining dark green above, often (always ?) 

 glaucous or white beneath, lower roundish and nearly equal-sided 

 and slightly cordate ; principal lateral nerves 3-4 at or close above 

 the base, lowest weaker short or soon looped or absent, next arcuate 

 for half length of leaf then continued in loops to its apex ; above these 

 a strong lateral nerve from far below the middle arcuate to the apex ; 

 tertiaries sub-scalariform, not much raised beneath in the cultivated 

 plant ; base rounded or oblique with one side acute. Spikes very long 

 slender pendulous, sometimes the female bearing some 2-sexuat 

 flowers, fls. mostly dioecious. Bracts adnate to the rhachis at base 

 and sides, sub-oblong but widened upwards, truncate rounded or 

 retuse at apex and with the adnate bracteoles in the female forming 

 a minute cup round the ovary. Male spikes filiform up to 7" long 

 pendulous, bracts each with 3 subsessile anthers. Fem. spike shorter, 

 thicker with ovary immersed in the rhachis, stigmas 3-4 subulate, 

 Herm. fls, have 2 short stamens closely adpressed to the pistil or 

 pistillode. Berry red, sessile globose in interrupted fleshy spikes. 



But little cultivated and in the damper hotter parts only, but the following form 

 is wild. Fl. May (and at other times?), 



Var. trioicum, C.D.C. Syn. P. trioicum, Roxb. 



Stems up to 2" diam., branches firm but with a large pith, mostly 

 pustulate below, leaf -buds minutely pubescent. Leaves 4-6*5", 

 obliquely ovate, long-acuminate, rather coriaceous and somewhat 

 bullate with depressed nerves above, pale or glaucous and micro- 

 scopically puberulous beneath, base obliquely shallowly cordate, 

 midrib very strong tapering upwards, with a strong lateral nerve 

 each side from a little above the base (sub-primary), a weak one each 

 side below the subprimary, and a strong sec, n, each side sometimes 

 subopposite, sometimes alternate, intermediate and tertiary venation 

 subparallel, looping and reticulate. Petiole •4--6". Stipular scar 

 prominent. 



AVild in the mountains of Mayurbhanj, near streams above 3000 ft. ! Fl. Sept.- 

 Oct. (mine were not in flower). 



789 



