72 FAMILIES OF FLOWERING PLANTS. 
Family Piperaceae. Pepper Family. Nine genera and over 1,000 
species, chiefly of tropical America; a few species of Peperomia occur 
in Florida. They are herbs or shrubs with joined stems, opposite or 
whorled leaves, and small spicate flowers destitute of perianth. The 
fruit is a sort of fleshy berry. The plants possess: pungent and 
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Fic. 68.—The Lizard’s Tail, Saururus cernuus, showing detached and magnified 
flower and fruit. Original. 
aromatic qualities which are familiar to everyone in the form of pep- 
per, the product of Piper nigrum. This is a vine reaching a height of 
twenty or more feet; the condiment is obtained from the ripened and: 
dried fruit. White pepper is made by divesting the fruit of its outer 
skin before pulverizing. 
