P1PEHALES. 



483 



are called, a watery, slightly acid fluid is secreted ; upon their borders 

 are secreted honey or nectar drops, which attract insects, and these fall- 

 ing into the fluid within are soon dissolved by it, and then absorbed by 

 the plant for its nour- 

 ishment. 



573. Cohort V. 

 Piperales. Mostly 

 herbs, with spiked 

 flowers and superior 

 one-celled and one- 

 seeded ovary. 



Order Ceratophyl- 

 leee. Aquatic herbs of 

 the Northern Hemi- 

 sphere. 



Order Chlorantha- 

 ceee. Shrubby plants, 

 mostly of the tropics. 



Order Piperaceee. 

 The Pepper Family. 

 Herbs, shrubs, or small 

 trees, almost confined to 

 the tropics ; generally 

 with a pungent and 

 aromatic principle. 

 Over 1000 species are 

 known. 



We have one species 

 of Saururus in the East- 

 ern, and one of Anemi- 

 opsis in the Southwest- 

 ern United States. 



Two tropical genera, 

 Piper and Peperomia, 

 include nearly all the 

 species, the first con- 

 taining 620 and the sec- short petiole ; b, blade or expanded part of"leaf ; c, ten- 

 */\ QOO dril-like prolongation of midrib; d, e, pitcher;/, its 



I. 383. Two leaves of Nensidhes awmtlarla. a, 

 c petiole ; ft, blade or expanded part of leaf ; c, ten- 

 dril-like prolongation of midrib; d, e, pitcher;/, its 

 lid. In the other leaf, which is younger, the lid has not 



Piper nigrum is a yet separated from the apex of the pitcher. After Du- 



i- iT- T^ j. T j- chartre. ) 



climbing East Indian 



plant, with heart-shaped leaves ; it bears spikes of berries, which, 

 when gathered green and dried, constitute the Black Pepper of com- 

 merce. The ripe berries, when dried, constitute White Pepper. Pep- 

 per is now grown in the West Indies. 



