ON A NEW KIND OF MATICO. 
293 
Since my examination of the above sample, I have had an opportunity of 
inspecting other samples at the same broker’s from which it had been obtained, 
and I found that all of them consisted essentially of the leaves of the same 
plant as that just mentioned, but in some there was a little genuine matico, and 
the leaves, etc., of apparently some other species besides those already alluded to, 
mixed with them in varying proportions. The following are the synonyms, 
botanical characters, and geographical sources of Artanthe adimca , Miq.:— 
Synonyms.— Artanthe adunca, Miq. ; is the Pi/per aduncum , Linn.; Piper 
arborescens , Mill. Diet. ; P. scabrum , Lam. Ill. ; P. lanceolatum , Salzmann; 
Steffensia adunca, Kunth ; and the Piper longum, folio nervoso pallide viridi 
humilius , of Sloane. The first name is that now generally employed by 
botanists. In common language it is known under the names of Hooked-spiked 
Pepper, and Spanish Elder. 
Etymology. —The generic name of Piper appears to have been derived from 
pippul , the Bengalese name of the Long Pepper, although some authors ascribe 
it to 7r<f7TT&), Trenepi, to digest; that of Artanthe is from aprvpui , seasoning, spice, 
and avdos , a flower. The specific name aduncum , refers to its curved or hooked 
spike of flowers. The origin of the common name of Plooked-spiked Pepper is 
at once manifest; that of Spanish Elder, by which it is known in Jamaica, is 
derived from its protuberant jointed stems somewhat resembling those of the 
common Elder. 
Botany.—T he genus Artanthe is now universally placed in the Natural 
Order Piperacesc. 
Generic Character. — Spikes solitary, opposite the leaves. Flowers herma¬ 
phrodite. Style none. Bracts peltate or cucullate.* 
Specific Character. —The following description is taken from Miquel:—f 
“Ramis ramulisque striatis aspero-verruculoso-punctulatis, junioribus appresse hispi- 
dulis, foliis breviter petiolatis, rigido-membranaceis pellucido-punctulatis, supra opacis 
scabriusculis, subtus pallidis puberulis, lato-oblongis vel (summa) sublanceolato-ob- 
longis, plus minus insequilateris, acuminatis, basi leviter insequali rotundatis, lineato- 
multi-(6-7)-costatis, amentis erectiusculis folio brevioribus, falcatim curvatis, pedunculo 
petiolum quater vel quinquies superante, bracteis peltatis, ciliato-fimbriatis, baccis obo- 
vato-tetragonis, vertice subrotundatis, semine conformi leviter areolato.” 
Miquel also enumerates the following four varieties:— Forma foliis omnibus 
lanceolato-oblongis , from Jamaica; Forma foliis angustioribus , from French 
Guiana ; Forma caide ramisque glabris , from Porto llico, etc. ; and Forma 
foliis rugosioribus et magis scabris , from Brazil and Bahia. Hence it is evident 
that the species varies much according to its geographical source, which renders 
it more probable that, although the new matico differs in some minor details 
from Miquel’s description as given above, as it agrees in the main with it, we 
are correct in referring it to Artanthe adunca , Miq. 
Habitat. — Artanthe adunca has a wide geographical distribution throughout 
the tropical regions of America. It has been found in Jamaica, Barbadoes, 
!San Domingo, Porto Rico, the Caraccas, Surinam, Bahia, Valencia, Guiana, 
and the Brazils. Its wide geographical distribution is an additional argument 
in favour of the present kind of matico being derived from it. 
General Characteristics.—A s imported, this new kind of matico con¬ 
sists chiefly of dried, more or less broken, loosely aggregated or somewhat 
compressed fibrous leaves; together with a very few flower-spikes; and small 
fragments of branches. It has a greenish colour; a strong, agreeably aromatic, 
* Miquel’s ‘Systema Piperacearumand Lindlcy’s ‘Medical and Economic Botany,’ 
page 133. 
f Miquel’s Sj'stema Piperacearum,’ page 449. Figures of the plant may be seen in 
Sloane’s ‘ Natural History of Jamaica,’ vol. i. p. 135, tab. 87, fig. 2; and Jacquin’s ‘leones 
Plantarum Rariores,’ vol. ii. tab. 210. 
