AMENTACE.E. 503 



are narcotic and astringent. The dried fruiting spikes of Piper longum, 

 an Indian creeper, constitute Long-pepper. Of late, however, the 

 genus Piper has been subdivided, and this kind of pepper has been 

 referred to various species of a new genus, Chavica, viz. C. peepuloides, 

 Roxburghii, and officinarum. The dried unripe fruit (drupes) of Piper 

 nigrum constitute Black-pepper, a climbing plant common in the East 

 Indies. The ripe fruit, when deprived of its outer fleshy covering by 

 washing, forms the White-pepper of the shops. These peppers are 

 hot aromatic condiments, and they are used medicinally as tonic, 

 stimulant, febrifuge, and stomachic. The fruit of Piper Cubeba 

 (Cubeba officinalis), a climbing plant of Java and other Indian islands, 

 is the medicinal Cubeb-pepper, which is used extensively hi arresting 

 discharges from mucous membranes. It contains a resin, a volatile 

 oil which is very active, and a peculiar principle called Cubebin. 

 The substance called Matico or Matica, consists of the leaves and 

 unripe fruit of Piper angustifolium (Artanthe elongata). It possesses 

 aromatic, fragrant, and astringent qualities. It has been particularly 

 recommended for checking haemorrhage, a property which seems, in 

 part, to be a mechanical one, depending on the structure of the leaf, 

 which also abounds in tannin. The root of Piper methysticum is the 

 Kava of the South Sea Islanders, which is used by them for pre- 

 paring a stimulating beverage. The leaf of Betel-pepper (Piper Betle) 

 is chewed with the Areca nut in the East, as a means of intoxication. 

 1033. Order 176. Amentacete, the Catkin-bearing Family. (Dic- 

 lin.) Flowers unisexual. Male flowers (fig. 721) capitate or in catkins 

 (amenta), (fig. 238,) sometimes with a membranous perianth. Female 

 flowers clustered, solitary (fig. 722), or in catkins. Stamens varying 



from 1 to 20, distinct (fig. 721) or monadelphous; anthers dithecal (fig. 

 721). Ovary usually simple (fig. 723 o) ; stigmas 1 or more (fig. 723 s). 



Figs. 721-727. Organs of fructification of Corylus Avellana, the Hazel, to illustrate the natural 

 order Amentaceae, section Cupuliferse. 



Fig. 721. Male flower separated from the catkin (amentum), e, Scale or bract bearing the 

 stamens, a, with their dithecal anthers. 



Fig 722. Female flower, /f, in a very young state, with its involucre, t. 



Fig. 723. Female flower more advanced, i, Involucre opened to show the ovary, o, covered 

 by the perianth, c. *, Two styles. 



