154 COXTRIBUTIOXS FROM THE XATIOXAL HERBARIUM. 



44. Piper decipiens (Miquel) C. DC. in DC. Prodr. 16': 273. 1869. 

 Arta lithe decipiens Miquel, Syst. Piper. 4G2. 1844. 



Known only from the type locality, Cordillera of Veracruz. 

 Branchlets pubescent; leaf blades ovate-oblong, 14 cm. long, acuminate, 

 puberulent or hirtellous beneath. 



45. Piper liebmannii C. DC. Linnaea 37: 344. 1873. 

 Veracruz ; type from Mirador. 



Branchlets glabrous ; leaf blades oblong-elliptic, acute, hirtellous or hirsute 

 beneath ; spikes 7.5 cm. long. 



46. Piper hispidum Swartz, Prodr. Veg. Ind. Occ. 15. 1788. 

 Piper hirsutum Swartz, Fl. Ind. Occ. 1 : GO. 1797. 



Veracruz to Tepic and Oaxaca. Central America. West Indies, and South 

 America ; type from Jamaica. 



Shrub, 2 to 5 meters high ; branchlets hirsute ; leaf blades 12 to 19 cm. long ; 

 spikes 10 to 11 cm. long. " Higuillo," " higuillo oloroso " (Porto Rico). 



47. Piper mexicanum (Miquel) C. DC. in DC. Prodr. 16': 276. 1869. 

 Artanthe mexicana Miquel, Syst. Piper. 458. 1844. 



Tepic to Oaxaca ; type from Cordillera of Oaxaca. Guatemala. 

 Branchlets hirtellous; leaf blades oblong-lanceolate, 14 cm. long, acuminate, 

 unequal at the base. 



48. Piper leucophyllum (Miquel) C. DC. in DC. Prodr. 16': 278. 1869. 

 Artanthe lencophylla Miquel, Syst. Piper. 460. 1844. 



Jalisco to Morelos, Puebla, and Guerrero. 



Shrub, 1 to 4 meters high ; branchlets tomentose ; leaf blades oblong-lanceolate, 

 about 14 cm. long, subacuminate. " Cordoncillo " (Guerrero). 



A decoction of the plant is used in Guerrero for fevers and as a wash to kill 

 parasites upon the human scalp. 



49. Piper angustifolium Ruiz & Pav. Fl. Peruv. Chil. 1 : 38. pi. 57. 1798. 

 Veracruz to Tepic. Central America, West Indies, and South America ; 



type from Peru. 



Branchlets densely villous ; leaf blades elliptic-lanceolate, 16 cm. long or 

 shorter, acuminate. The following names are said to apply to the plant, 

 although they are probably not confined to this species : "Achiotlln," " solda- 

 dillo " (Veracruz); " achotlin " (Colima) ; "cordoncillo" (Jalisco, Veracruz, 

 Oaxaca, Hidalgo, Nicaragua); " mStico " (Oaxaca, Nicaragua); " rabo de 

 zorra," " santilla montes " (Oaxaca); " platanillo," " platanillo de monte " 

 (Cuba). 



The leaves, known in commerce as " matico," are an article of export from 

 some parts of tropical America. They are used in medicine to stop the flow of 

 blood and for venereal diseases. It is probable that many different species 

 furnish the " matico " of commerce. In Mexico this plant is used as an 

 astringent and a balsamic stimulant. 



50. Piper melastomoides Schlecht. & Cham. Linnaea 5: 74. 1830. 

 Veracru.?: ; type from Jalapa. 



Shrub, 3 to 4.5 meters high; branchlets villous; petioles 1 cm. long; leaf 

 blades oblong-ovate or lance-elliptic, about 17 cm. long and 7.5 cm. wide, rounded 

 or acute at the base ; spikes 3 cm. long. 



51. Piper smilacifolium H. B. K. Nov. Gen. & Sp. 1: 56. 1815. 

 Veracruz. Central America and Venezuela (type locality). 



Shioib. 3 to 4.5 meters high: branchlets glabrous; petioles 1.5 cm. long: leaf 

 blades ovate, 14 to 19 cm. long. 11 to 16 cm. wide, cordate to acutish at the 

 base ; spikes 11 cm. long. 



