504 A TEXT-BOOK OF BOTANY. 



the parts of the corolla are distinct or are united, namely, the 

 Archichlamydeae and Metachlamydese. 



ARCHICHLAMYDE^E OR CHORIPETAL^. 



The Archichlamydeae or Choripetalse comprise those dicoty- 

 ledonous plants in which the petals are separate and distinct from 

 one another or are entirely wanting. 



I. ORDER PIPERALES. 



The plants of this order are mostly tropical herbs and shrubs 

 and possess very small flowers which have neither petals nor sepals. 

 The leaves are simple and without stipules, the most important 

 family medicinally, as well as in other ways, being the PIPERACE/E, 

 to which the following medicinal plants belong. 



Piper nigrum is a woody climber that has leathery, grayish- 

 green, ovate-elliptical leaves (Figs. 281, 282), with three prominent 

 middle nerves and two side nerves; the flowers are perfect, 

 sessile and form an elongated fleshy spike ; the fruit is a berry 

 which is yellowish-red when ripe. The unripe fruit constitutes 

 the BLACK PEPPER of commerce. WHITE PEPPER is the ripe berry 

 of Piper nigrum from which the epicarp is removed, while " LONG 

 PEPPER " is obtained from Piper longum, an entirely different 

 plant, and consists of the entire spikes with immature fruits. 



Piper Cubeba is a climbing perennial, with leathery elliptical- 

 ovate or long elliptical leaves ; the flowers are dioecious and 

 arranged in spikes ; the fruit is a berry, the pedicel becoming much 

 elongated after fertilization. The unripe fruit is the part used in 

 medicine and is official as cubeb. 



Piper angustifolium yields MATICO, formerly official. The 

 plant is a shrub growing in Central and South America and is 

 characterized by its long, oblong-lanceolate, deeply reticulate, very 

 hairy leaves. The flowers and fruits are very small and arranged 

 in long, slender spikes, which are frequently found in the drug. 

 Matico contains 2 to 3 per cent, of a volatile oil, containing a 

 stearoptene matico camphor, which appears to be the most im- 

 portant constituent. It also contains an acrid resin, a bitter prin- 

 ciple, and a crystalline principle, artanthic acid. Other related 



