Piper.] cxiii. piperace.e (baker and wrigut). 147 



5. P. pseudosilvaticum, C. DC. in Bol. Soc. Brot. x. 153. 

 Glabrous. Leaves ovate, equally cordate at the base, acutely acuminate, 

 7-nerved, when dry subopaque and pellucid-dotted, up to 2J in. long 

 and 7 lin. wide ; petiole up to 7 lin. long, sheathing beyond the middle. 

 Peduncle about as long as the petiole ; male catkins shorter than the 

 leaves, 1 in. long, about 1 lin. in diam.; bracts orbicular, very shortly 

 stalked ; rhachis and pedicels slightly pilose ; female inflorescence 

 unknown. Stamens 2. 



Jao-wer Guinea. Island of St. Thomas: Macambrara, 4250 ft., Moller. 



This is said to be allied to the Indiau P. sijlvaticum, Koxb., which differs in 

 generally having 4 stamens. Although the female flowers are unknown, the other 

 cl)aracters show such an affinity with P. Molleri, C. Y)C, that we place them in the 

 game section. 



G. P. sclerocladum, C. DC. in Engl. Jahrh. xix. 224. Branches 

 smooth, glabrous. Leaves ovate-elliptic, 'd\ in. long by half as broad, 

 acutely acuminate, symmetrical and acute at the base, subcoriaceous, 

 opaque when dry, glabrous on both sides, 5-nerved, the two lower 

 arising from the midrib a little above the base, the two upper near the 

 middle of the blade ; petiole about 4 lin. long, sheathing at the very 

 base. Peduncle leaf-opposed ; spikes dense, much shorter than the 

 leaf ; rhachis puberulous ; bracts orbicular, glabrous, peltate. Berry 

 stalked, ovoid. 



Upper Guinea. Cameroons : Yaunde, Zenker, 327. 



7. P. brachyrhachis, C. II. Wright. A shrub G-7 ft. high. 

 Branches pubescent. Leaves ovate, acuminate, rounded at the base, 

 »5-7-nerved, densely villous beneath, glabrous above, 5 J in. long, 3 J in. 

 wide, one or two pairs of lateral nerves springing from the base, the 

 other slightly above ; petiole about 1 in. long, channelled above, villous. 

 Peduncle slender, 9 lin. long, villous; spike 5 lin. long; bracts peltate, 

 glabrous, white ; flowers polygamous. Stamens 3 ; filaments com- 

 planate; anther-cells distinct. Ovary ovoid, compressed ; stigmas 2. 



Mozamb. Blst. British Central Africa : Nyasaland ; between Mpata and the 

 commencement of the Tanganyika Plateau, 2000-3000 ft., Whyte ! Nyika Plateau, 

 4000-7000 ft., Wkyte, 199 ! 



2. PEPEROMIA, Ruiz & Pav. ; Benth. et Hook, 

 f. Gen. PI. iii. 132. 



Flowers hermaphrodite, spicate. Perianth 0. Stamens 2 ; filaments 

 short ; anthers transversely oblong or subglobose ; cells 2, usually con- 

 fluent. Ovary sessile or subsessile, obtuse or acute ; ovule solitary, 

 erect ; stigma undivided, often penicillate. Fruit minute ; pericarp 

 thin. Seed similar in shape to the fruit ; testa membranous or coria- 

 ceous ; endosperm farinaceous, — Herbs, annual or perennial, sometimes 



