MONOCHLAMTDE^. 625 



single carpel, exalbuminous seeds, and a straight embryo with 

 convolute cotyledons. They are natives of tropical America. 

 Most of the plants are acrid, and some have a strong alhaceous 

 odour. Petiveria alUacea is reputed sudorific and emmenagogue, 

 and its roots are used in the West Indies as a remedy for tooth- 

 ache. 



Natural Order 189. Gtrostemoste^. — The Gyrostemon 

 Order. — Diagnosis. — This is another small order of plants, 

 which is considered by some botanists to be alhed to Phyto- 

 laccaceffi, and is even sometimes associated with it. It is dis- 

 tinguished from that order by having unisexual flowers, the 

 carpels arranged round a central column, 2 suspended seeds in 

 each carpel, and a hooked embryo. They have no known uses. 



This order and the three preceding ones include, (according 

 to Lindley), 21 genera, and 78 species. They all require further 

 investigation before their affinities can be well ascertained. 



Natural Order 190. Pipekace^. — The Pepper Order. 



Herbs or shrubs with jointed stems. Flowers spiked, perfect, 

 without floral envelopes, bract eated. Stamens 2 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, 8fc. — Natives exclusively of tropical regions, 

 especially in America, and the islands of the Indian Archipelago. 

 Examples: — Peperomia, Macropiper, Chavica, Cubeba, Piper, 

 Artanthe. There are 20 genera, and 600 species. 



Properties and Uses, — The plants of this order are chiefly 

 remarkable for acrid, pungent, aromatic, and stimulant pro- 

 perties. These qualities are especially to be found in their 

 fruits, and are due to the presence of an acrid volatile oil and 

 resin. Some are narcotic, and others are reputed astringent and 

 febrifugal. 



Macropiper methysticum The large rhizome of this plant is known in the 



South Sea Islands under the name of Ava, where it is largely used in the pre- 

 paration of an intoxicating and narcotic liquor, called Ava or Cava. It is also 

 used medicinally in chronic rheumatism and venereal affections. 



Chavica.— The dried unripe female spikes of C. Roxburghii {Piper longum), 

 constitute the Long Pepper of commerce which is obtained from our Indiaa 

 possessions ; those of C. officinarum, which are used in America, &c., are 

 obtained from the Dutch colonies. The former is the kind generally used in 

 this country. Long Pepper contains an acrid resin, a volatile oil, and a 

 peculiar crystalline alkaloid called Piperine. It resembles Black Pepper in its 

 effects, and is used in similar cases. It is chiefly employed for culinary pur- 

 poses. Dried slices of the root and stem are used medicinally in ludia under 

 the name of Pippula Moola. Other species of Chavica have similar proper- 

 ties, as C. Chaba, pepuloides, and sylvatica, and are used in India. The 

 leaves of C. Betle, Betel Pepper, and C. Siriboa are chewed by the Malays 

 and other eastern races, mixed with slices of the Betel Nut {Areca Catechu), 

 and a little lime. Its use as above is considered to impart an ornamental red 

 hue to the lips and mouth, and an agreeable odour to the breath, and is also 



