Piper ] 
CVII. PIPERACE/E. 
1285 
unisexual, the males not seen, the females leaf-opposed, 1 to 3in. long, on 
peduncles rarely exceeding -Jin. Berries red, ovoid or almost globular, 2 to 
2J lines long, on stipules of about the same length. — Cas. DC. Prod. xvi. i. 342. 
Hub.: Endeavour River, Bunks and Solander; and many other tropical scrubs. 
4. P. triandrum (3 stamens), F. v. 21. Frafpn. v. 197 ; Bentli. FI. Austr. 
vi. 205. A bushy climber, quite glabrous. Leaves shortly petiolate, ovate, 
acuminate, unequal at the base, but scarcely cordate, membranous, quintupli 
or septupli-nerved, 3 to 5in. long. Males spikes leaf-opposed, slender; 3 to 5in. 
long. Bracts adnate to the rhachis, with a very small free margin separating 
the coils or rings of flowers. Stamens 3, the anthers slightly protruding. 
Female spikes very slender, 3 to Tin. long ; peduncles scarcely lin. long. 
Berries roundish-oval, about 2 lines long, never crowded. — Cas. DC. Prod, 
xvi. i. 365. 
Hab.: Mackay ,Dallachy, and many other tropical scrubs. 
5. P„ (Chavica) l^estoni (after A. Meston). Queensland Long Pepper. 
A large climber adhering to the stems of trees by adventitious roots. Leaves 
broadly ovate-acuminate, rounded at the base, and nearly or quite equal- 
sided, 6 to Sin. long, 4 to 5in. broad, on petioles of about fin., septuplinerved. 
Spikes unisexual, leaf opposed ; males not seen ; females or fruiting spikes 
of a brownish colour, formed by the firmly united fruits, nearly 2in. long and 
5 lines diameter at the base, terete, tapering towards the end. Peduncles about 
fin. long. Styles rather prominent, 2-lipped. 
Hab.: Harvey’s Creek, Russell River. 
This species is nearly allied to P. Chaba, Hunter in Hook. FI. Brit. Ind. v. 83 (the Chavica 
peepuloides, Miq. of Wight Ic. t. 1927). 
This and the following species are near allies of the Long Pepper of commerce. 
6. 2?. (Chavica) Rothiana (after Dr. W. E. Roth), Bail. Ql. Ayric. 
Journ. v. 391. “ Chib-bi,” Atherton, J. F. Bailey. A tall climbing plant 
adhering to tree trunks by adventitious roots, like Ivy. Leaves ovate-acuminate, 
4 to Gin. long, 2 to 2Jin. broad, rounded or slightly cordate at the base, usually 
5-nerved ; petiole stout, about 4 lines long, hairy as well as the lower parts of 
the nerves. Spikes (only fruiting spikes obtained) nearly horizontal from the 
branch, 3 to 4in. long, not very stout, on peduncles of about 1-Jin. The dried 
fruitlets f line long. 
Hab.: Atherton, J. F. Bailey. 
The aboriginal word above quoted seems a generic name for Pipers. — J. F. Bailey. 
2. PEPEROMIA, Ruiz, and Pav. 
(Analogous to Piper.) 
Flowers hermaphrodite, the subtending bract peltite. Stamens 2 ; anther- 
cells confluent at the apex, the whole anther opening in 2 valves. Ovary 1-celled 
with a single ovule. Stigma tufted or capitate. Berries sessile or scarcely 
stipitate. — Herbs sometimes very small, rarely tall or shrubby at the base. 
Leaves alternate opposite or whorled, usually succulent or membranous and 
pellucid-dotted. Spikes slender, terminal axillary or rarely leaf-opposed. 
Flowers and berries very small. 
The genus is spread over the tropical and subtropical regions of the New and the Old World, 
but it is especially rich in American species. Of the three Australian species one is also in the 
Pacific Islands, one extends over nearly the whole area of the genus, the other is endemic. 
Leaves usually opposite, pubescent, thin when dry 1. P. leptostachya. 
Leaves in whorls of four, glabrous or nearly so, coriaceous when dry ... 2. P. reflexa. 
Leaves opposite or three in a whorl, glabrous 3. P. enervis. 
