HOUTTUYNIA.] AEISTOLOCHIACEM. & 



It is found in gardens within the area of this flora, and the very 

 bitter roots, like those of A. bracteata, are used medicinally. 

 Several exotic species are grown in Indian gardens as ornamental 

 plants, notably some from Brazil with curious and highly coloured 

 flowers. 



XCIV.-PIPERACEJE. 



Herbs or shrubs, usually aromatic. Leaves alternate opposite- 

 or whorled, entire, gland-dotted ; stipules none or 2, connate or 

 adnate to the petiole. Flowers minute, 1- or 2-sexual, in axillary 

 or terminal catkin-like spikes, subtended by a peltate bract. 

 Perianth none. Stamens 2-6, rarely 7-8, hypogynous ; anthers 

 often jointed on the filaments, the cells sometimes confluent and 

 bursting longitudinally. Ovary of 3 or 4 carpels free or connate at 

 the base, each with many ovules, or ovary 1 -celled with a solitary 

 orthotropous ovule ; stigmas distinct on the free carpels or ovary- 

 lobes, or terminal on the undivided ovary, occasionally solitary, 

 sessile, simple or penicillate. Fruit small, indehiscent, or of cocci 

 or follicles. Seeds globose, ovoid or oblong, testa thin ; albumen 

 copious, floury, embryo enclosed in an amniotic cavity at the end 

 of the albumen remote from the hilum, cotyledons minute or 

 obsolete, radicle superior. Species over 1,000, in tropical and 

 sub-tropical regions, chiefly American. 



Flowers 2-sexual ; ovary of 3 or 4 free or connate 



carpels . . . . . . .1. HouTTTTYNiA. 



Flowers usually dioecious ; ovary 1 -celled . 2. PIPER. 



1. HOUTTUYNIA, Thunb. ; Fl. Brit, Ind. v, 78. 



Perennial herbs. Leaves alternate, usually cordate ; stipules 

 broad, membranous. Spikes terminal and leaf-opposed, pedun- 

 cled, dense, usually with an involucre of 4-6 white petaloid bracts. 

 Flowers minute. Perianth none. Stamens 3-6, filaments adnate at 

 the base to the ovary, anthers oblong. Ovary of 3-4 partially con- 

 nate 1 -celled carpels ; styles free, erect, stigmatose on the inner 

 surface ; ovules many, on parietal placentas. Fruit subglobose, 

 bursting between the styles. Seeds many, globose, testa membran- 



