An Encyclopedia of Horticulture. 



147 



Fiper — continued. 

 stamens two to four, rarely five or many ; spikes jierluneu- 

 lato or rarely sub-sossile. Leaves alternate, entire or 

 (in one species) trifid, stalked ; stipules adherent to the 

 loaf-stalk, or opposite, and deciduous. Few of the 

 species have any horticultural importance, liut some of 

 thorn are of great economic value. The Pepper of com- 



Piper — continued. 

 P. Betle. Betel Pepper. //., catkins niiposite the leaves, 

 Iteiliincled, greatly enlar^eii in fruit, pi*niK*nt. I. alteinate, 

 distichous, cunlate-ovatc, 4in. tt) 7in. Itui;;, acuiuinatcii at apex, 

 o))lique at liase ; petioles luunded, stipulcd when yeung. Stems 

 trailing tn- eliuiliing to a great height. I'^ast Iiulics. 1804. .Stove. 

 'J'his species yields the Uetel Leaf of the South Asiatics— 

 almost as extensivo an article of commerce as Tobacco is in 

 the West. (B. M. 3132.) 



Fig. 189. Kiuncu or J'iMcu eoiU'iivHDriivLLiM. 



mcrcc {P. 'tiiijnim) is imported in enormous (luantities. 

 It is also employed as an acrid stimulant in oases of im- 

 paired dij^estion. and it has been recommended, in cases 

 of a^ue, to prevent the paroxysm. F. iiuinini and the 

 rest of the stove species g^row freely in a well-di-ained. 

 rich, loamy soil. The others thrive in almost any foil, 

 in a cooler temperature. All are propaf^ated by cuttinj^s 

 of the half-ripened shoots, inserted in sandy soil, under 

 a bell glass. 



P. borneense (Bornean). (. large, of a rich dark green, with 

 hioad but faint silvery-grey stripes la-tween the eleven nerves, 

 rugo.se and glabrous above, hairy-pubusi-eilt beneath. Stem thick, 

 hairy. Borneo, 1882. A dwarf, stove, herbaceous species. 



P. decurrens (di'iurrcut)." (. given, sbadt-d with metallic 

 ilidcMciM-e. large. Sti/lu stout, pale green, luottk-d VMth white 

 sn..tB and black lines. Coluiubia, 1876. A distinct and splendid 

 stove plant. (1. II. 239.) SvNS. Arlaiilhe deairrem and A. 

 mafjnijica. 



P. excelsum aureum-plotum (tall, golden-painted).* (. ^yith a 

 large, creamy blotch, broadly ovate-ciprdate, acuminate, 3in. to 



