Flora of the Malayan Peninsula. 289 
Fruit (a berry) indehiscent. Seed adherent to the endocarp ; embryo- 
sac persistent at the apex of a copious perisperm, including the 
dicotyledonous embryo and a scanty endosperm ; radicle superior. 
Stigma globular or rarely bilobed, very small; fruit minute, 
0'5—2 mm. long. Leaves exstipulate 316 .. 1. PEPEROMIA. 
Stigmas 2—6, very rarely a single globular stigma (so far 
only in two species) ; fruit small, 3—11 mm. long. 
Leaves stipulate .. nc ne SL OEP ER 
1. PepERomiA, Ruiz and Pavon. 
Herbs, annual or perennial, usually succulent. Leaves exstipu- 
late, alternate or (seemingly) opposite or verticillate. Spikes pedun- 
culate, either solitary and inserted in the axils of fully developed 
leaves, or terminal, or inserted in the axils of imperfect leaves and 
then geminate or paniculate or umbellate, or very rarely epiphyllous. 
Bract very small, usually hypopeltate, seldom squamiform. Flower 
bisexual, sessile or subsessile, often sunk with its bract in a depression 
of the rhachis. very rarely(only in two West Indian species) connate with 
its bract. Stamens 2, lateral, hypogynous; anthers extrorse, 2-celled , 
bivalvate when opening. Ovary free, formed by a single carpel ; 
stigma globular or rarely bilobed, always very small and sometimes 
hardly visible; ovule with a single integument. erry usually 
rounded at its base or more rarely contracted into a slender stipe. 
1°, Leaves opposite or the upper ones ternate -quaternate. 
a. Stem and leaves more or less pubescent. 
Stigma inserted obliquely a little below the summit of 
the ovary; limb of leaf elliptic or cbovate-elliptic, 
cuneate at the base, up to 4 mm. :ong 1. P. dindigulensis 
Stigma terminal; limb of leaf obovate or sounded: 
obovate, acute or subacute at the base, 12°5—20 mm. 
long .. ae D0 56 he dee (iene 
b. Stem and leaves alaprous. 
Stigma terminal; limb obovate or elliptic-rhomboid, 
rounded at the apex, acute at the base, 26—40 mm. 
long .. ar se oc ao Bh 
2°. Leaves alternate. 
a. Limb glabrous on both surfaces. 
Stigma inserted obliquely a little below the summit of 
the ovary. Limb elliptic, cuneate at the base, 
obtuse at the apex, up to 40 mm. long.. .. 4. P. Mazwellana, 
Stigma terminal. 
Berry globose, uniformly glandulose-asperulate. Limb 
rounded-ovate, cordate at the base, obtuse at the 
apex, up to 29 mm. long, and 31 mm. wide .. dS. P. malaccensis. 
P. poriulacoides 
