678 LACISTEMACEX.— PIPERACEA. 
name. It is imported into Bombay from the Persian port of Bushire ; 
and Dymock thinks there can be little doubt that the Sarcocolla plant will 
rove to be a species of Astragalus, or of some nearly allied genus. 
(See Astragalus.) 
Order 6. LAactstEMACE®.—The Lacistema Order.—C harac- 
ter.—Shrubs. Leaves simple, alternate, dotted, stipulate. 
Flowers in axillary catkins, perfect or unisexual. Calyx inferior, 
with several divisions, enclosed by a bract. Stamen 1, hypogy- 
nous, with a 2-lobed connective, each lobe bearing 1 cell of the 
anther, which bursts transversely. Ovary superior, seated in a 
disk, 1-celled, with numerous ovules attached to parietal pla- 
centas. Fruit capsular, 1-celled, 2—3-valved. Seeds generally 
2 or 3, arillate, suspended, with fleshy albumen. 
Distribution, Numbers, and Properties.—Natives of woody 
places in tropical America. Illustrative Genera:—There are 
2 genera, namely, Lacistema, Swartz, and Synzyganthera, Ff. 
et in which contain 6 species. Their properties and uses are 
unknown. 
Cohort 7. Piperales.—Flowers hermaphrodite or unisexual, 
generally arranged in a spike or a spadix. Calyx usually 
absent, or when present rudimentary. Ovary superior, 
oenerally 1-celled, 1-ovuled, or 3—4-celled with a few 
ovules. Seed albuminous (except in Ceratophyllum) ; em- 
bryo usually minute. 
Order 1. PrerrackE®, the Pepper Order.—Character.— 
Herbs or shrubs with jointed stems. Leaves opposite, whorled, 
or alternate, and with or without stipules. Flowers spiked, 
hermaphrodite or sometimes unisexual, achlamydeous, brac- 
teated. Stamens2 or more; anthers 1—2-celled. Ovary simple, 
1-celled, with one erect orthotropous ovule; stigma sessile. 
Fruit more or less fleshy, 1-celled, 1-seeded. Seed erect ; embryo 
in a distinct fleshy sac at the apex of the seed, and on the outside 
of abundant albumen. 
Distribution and Numbers.—Natives exclusively of tropical 
regions, especially in America and the islands of the Indian 
Archipelago, Illustrative Genus:—Piper, Linn. There are 
above 600 species. : 
Properties and Uses.—The plants of this order are chiefly 
remarkable for acrid, pungent, aromatic, and stimulant pro- 
perties. These qualities are principally found in their fruits, 
and are essentially due to the presence of an acrid volatile oil 
and resin. Some are narcotic, and others are reputed to be 
astringent and febrifugal. 
Piper.—The dried leaves of Piper angustifolium (Artanthe elongata) 
constitute the official Matico of the British Pharmacopeia. Matico has 
been recommended as a topical application for arresting hemorrhage from 
wounds, &c. It has been also employed internally as a styptic, but its 
