2 
terminating in a sharp point. The base of the leaf is often unequal and 
somewhat folded in drying. The flowers are unisexual, and appear on 
separate plants (dicecious). They consist of cylindrical =g spikes 
coming off opposite the leaves. The male spikes are long and slender, 
while the female zE ikes are shorter, thick, and fleshy, and provided 
with a short pedun 
Tbe fruit (which pee only on female plants) is Roc and very 
similar in size and appearance to black pepper. It is, however, provided 
with a stalk-like base, which is a little longer ‘iat the globular 
extremity. Numerous fruits, when approaching ripeness, are ranged 
horizontally on a saria axis, forming a lax raceme (see engraving). 
This pepper appears to be found wild only in Java, Sumatra, and 
Borneo. In the rai islands cubebs are regularly grown, and they 
form an important (though oo) article of export. They often 
(t : 
come to this country through Singapore. According to Descourlitz, 
cubebs were at one time cultivated as an introduction by the French in 
the West Indies. At present they are ace op there 
Pi rin and not Cubebin. Under T stimulus of high prices, numerous 
adulterants are being introduced to increase the bulk of true cubebs. 
Amongst these Piper crassipes, Korthals, has i pe described 
538, TI h 
e 
cubebs, and have a stalk-like base only half the diameter of the 
The; cultivation of cubebs appears to be very similar to that of the 
ordinary black pepper. Trees are requisite for shade and for supporting 
the vines. At the foot of these ihe young plants are first started. 
a large — In Java small plantations are ise 
this ‘account they are sometimes. atha “ tailed pepper.” Cubeb hav 
a warm aromatic and somewhat “camphoraceous” taste. The smell is 
highly aromatic, and by no means disagr 
Cubebs have ere and diuretic properties, The chief use of 
cubebs in European countries has been for various forms of syphilitic 
disease. Latterly ‘they have been largely used in America in the 
preparation of asthma cigarettes. 
ri to the Chemist and Druggist the price of cubebs has 
al n subject to sudden and violent fluctuations. In 1865 the 
"bs averaged 77s. 6d. per cwt.; from 1875 to 1880 cubebs could be 
ught at prices ranging from 25s. to 55s. per cwt. Since 1880 the 
price has steadily gone up, and “ good genuine cubebs” in 1886 realised 
207. to 227, he cwt. 
