246 SPICES 



CHAP. VIII 



and more prominent veins. The leaves are less flat. 

 It is deficient in stamens. 



The small -leaved Balmacotta has small, uniform 

 leaves, and the whole plant is covered with an immense 

 number of short flowering spikes. These are largely 

 devoid of stamens. 



Kallwalli Pepper. This has a reputation for a 

 heavier crop than that of Balamcotta, and is more 

 valuable. It has the defect that it flushes irregularly. 

 It is said that fresh spikes appear at intervals during 

 the year, so that the crop is extended over a long 

 period. The leaves are fairly uniform in length, varying 

 in width according to age ; the young leaves are oval, 

 with equal sides, the mature ones practically circular 

 with a sharp sudden point twisted to one side. The 

 general colour of the foliage is dark green, contrasting 

 with the Balamcotta vine in this respect. The leaves 

 are more deeply impressed with nerves. The flowering 

 branches are much stronger and stand out stiffly from 

 the standard, and the joints are closer together. The 

 spikes vary a good deal in length, but are not so 

 long as in the Balamcotta varieties. They are often 

 branched, few vines being without one or two branched 

 spikes. Sometimes the spike is tassel-like in appearance, 

 with a dozen or more branched spikes at the base of the 

 main spike. The flowers are much closer together than 

 in Balamcotta vines, their distance apart being equal or 

 double the length of the flowers. The spike is therefore 

 closely packed with berries which are said to be smaller 

 and heavier than in Balamcotta. The spikes are 

 abundantly supplied with stamens. The plant stands 

 heat well and is easy to propagate. The main varieties 

 of the Kallivalli type are the ivy -leaved forms 

 distinguished by their wavy edges. 



Clierikadi is a well marked dwarf form under 15 ft. 

 in height ; the leaves are uniform, narrow pointed, 6 to 8 

 in. long, and 3 to 4 in. wide, dark green, and strongly 

 veined, more so than in the two former varieties. The 

 leaves are arranged uniformly overlapping, so as to hide 



