246 
SPICES 
CHAP. VIII 
and more prominent veins. The leaves are less flat. 
It is deficient in stamens. 
The small -leaved Balmacotta has small, uniform 
leaves, and the whole plant is covered with an immense 
number of short flowering spikes. These are largely 
devoid of stamens. 
Kallivalli Pepper , — This has a reputation for a 
heavier crop than that of Balamcotta, and is more 
valuable. It has the defect that it flushes irregularly. 
It is said that fresh spikes appear at intervals during 
the year, so that the crop is extended over a long 
period. The leaves are fairly uniform in length, varying 
in width according to age ; the young leaves are oval, 
with equal sides, the mature ones practically circular 
with a sharp sudden point twisted to one side. The 
general colour of the foliage is dark green, contrasting 
with the Balamcotta vine in this respect. The leaves 
are more deeply impressed with nerves. The flowering 
branches are much stronger and stand out stiffly from 
the standard, and the joints are closer together. The 
spikes vary a good deal in length, but are not so 
long as in the Balamcotta varieties. They are often 
branched, few vines being without one or two branched 
spikes. Sometimes the spike is tassel-like in appearance, 
with a dozen or more branched spikes at the base of the 
main spike. The flowers are much closer together than 
in Balamcotta vines, their distance apart being equal or 
double the length of the flowers. The spike is therefore 
closely packed with berries which are said to be smaller 
and heavier than in Balamcotta. The spikes are 
abundantly supplied with stamens. The plant stands 
heat well and is easy to propagate. The main varieties 
of the Kallivalli type are the ivy -leaved forms 
distinguished by their wavy edges. 
Cherihadi is a well marked dwarf form under 15 ft. 
in height ; the leaves are uniform, narrow pointed, 6 to 8 
in. long, and 3 to 4 in. wide, dark green, and strongly 
veined, more so than in the two former varieties. The 
leaves are arranged uniformly overlapping, so as to hide 
