1916} HOFFSTADT—PIPER METHYSTICUM Li7 
called Ava or Kava, the natives extracting from its roots the national 
beverage bearing that name. 
It becomes a shrub 1-1.5m. in height and is propagated 
mostly by cuttings. No seedlings were obtainable. The leaves 
are ovate, 18-25 cm. in diameter, with a deep cordate base and 
a short accuminate apex. The blade is bright green, smooth 
above, and bears fine multicellular hairs on the veins beneath. 
It is distinctly petioled, the petiole having a sheathing base and 
Fic. 1.—Piper methysticum growing in Samoa 
a deciduous stipule. The leaves are alternate and the dense 
flower clusters are borne opposite them. The internodes are 7—10 
cm. long, the nodes being swollen, smooth, and in the older ones 
irregularly spotted. Both old and young stems have an herba- 
ceous appearance. The largest nodes examined were 2.75 cm. 
in diameter, and the smallest were 2 mm. 
For the sake of comparison Piper umbellatum (Heckeria umbel- 
lata Kunth) was used, the material being obtained from plants 
brought from Mexico. In shape and size the leaves resemble 
those of Piper methysticum. The petiole has a sheathing base; 
