20 FLORA OF JAMAICA Piper 



Pepper Elder, Joint Wood. 



Species, more than 700, widely distributed through the 

 wai'mer regions of the globe, wanting in Europe and temperate 

 N. America, most numerous in tropical America. 



I. Spikes opposite the leaves. 



1. Leaves palraatinerved. Berries somewhat dis- 



tant from each other. 



a. Leaves with all nerves springing from one 



point quite at the base of the median 



nerve, equal-sided at base, or almost 



equal-sided. Berries blunt. 

 Spikes as long as, or a little longer than, 



the leaves 1. P. Amalago. 



Spikes nearly twice as long as leaves. 



Leaves lanceolate, acute at base 2. P. WullscJilaegelii. 



Leaves ovate, rounded at base 3. P. nigrinodum. 



b. Leaves with the two upper lateral nerves 



generally springing from a point above 

 the base, not eqral-sided at base. 

 Berries mucronate 4. P. discolor. 



2. Leaves penninerved. Berries crowded together 



and more or less angled by pressure. 



a. Leaves penninerved to apex, very unequal 



at base ; petiole grooved, with a margin 



or wing to the groove. 

 Leaves puberulous underneath on nerves 



and veins 5. P. tuhcrculatum. 



Leaves glabrous on both sides 6. P. arboreum. 



b. Leaves penninerved scarcely beyond the 



lower half; petiole without margins. 

 Leaves at base auriculate on the longer 



side 7. P. otoplnjllum. 



Leaves not auriculate. 



Leaves at base acute on both sides 8. P. Ledebourii. 



Leaves at base rounded at least on one 

 side. 



Spikes curved 9. P. adimcum. 



Spikes erect. 



Branches more or less pubescent 10. P. scabrum. 



Branches viUose 11. P. hispiduvt. 



Branches glabrous 12. P. jatnaiccnse. 



Leaves at base unequal, rounded on 



each side 13. P. dilatatum. 



II, Spikes umbellate on the apex of an axillary 



peduncle 14. P. uinbcllaUim. 



§ 1. Spikes opposite the leaves. Leaves palraatinerved (and 

 all the nerves springing from one point quite at the base 

 of the median nerve), equal-sided at base or almost equal- 

 sided. Flowers not in a distinct ring or spiral. Bracts 

 cucullate. Berries more or less distinct from one another, 

 at apex blunt. 



1. P. Amalago L. Sp. PL 29 (1753); spikes as long as, or 

 a little longer than, leaves. — WrigJit Mem. 229; Haio. Succ. 4; 



