PIPER. 497 
have been told, but cannot vouch for the accuracy of my 
information, that the cubeb is imported into Europe, 
and given to public fingers at theatres to clear the voice.” 
Edinburgh Med. Journal, Jan. 1818. 
Dr. James Orr, of Edinburgh, communicated to Dr. 
Duncan, jun. four cafes of leucorrhcea cured by cubebs. 
In the firft cafe, the patient had laboured under the difeafe 
for feven months. In the fecond, the complaint had 
laded nearly eight years; in the third, it was of two 
years’ Handing; and in the fourth, the difcharge had 
refilled the ufe of feveral remedies for fix months. In 
the firft three cafes, the difcharge fucceeded to abortion. 
The pepper was adminiftered either in water or milk, or 
made into an electuary with treacle. The dofe was from 
one drachm and a half upwards, three times a-day, but 
never exceeded three drachms. London Med. Journal> 
May 1822. 
4. Piper clufitefolium: leaves obovate blunt, veined; 
fpike folitary, terminating. The whole of this is fmooth. 
Stem perennial, thicker than a quill, branched, a foot 
high, at firft upright, but afterwards becoming decumbent 
from the weight of leaves and branches, and throwing 
out roots from the joints ; by which perhaps in its native 
foil it fallens itfelf to trees. Leaves alternate, quite entire, 
fometimes emarginate, thick, fomewhat flefhy, obfcurely 
veined, nervelefs, very dark green with the edges fome¬ 
times of a dirty blood-colour, on very fhort petioles ; 
they are about four inches in length. Spike round, 
upright, green, four inches long, about half the thick- 
nefs of a quill; on a peduncle an inch in length, purplilli, 
jointed at the bafe, and often rolled back at the top. 
Native of the Weft Indies. 
5. Piper Capenfe, or Cape pepper : leaves ovate, nerved, 
acuminate; nerves villofe. This is diftinguiflied from 
the other larger fpecies of the genus, which it refembles 
Very much, by having the veins of the leaves villofe on 
the lower furface. Found at the Cape of Good Hope by 
Th unberg. 
6. Piper malamiris : leaves ovate, fharpifh, rugged 
underneath ; nerves five, raifed underneath. Stems 
round, ftriated, twining. Leaves thin, green above, 
fubcinereous underneath : they have five nerves, and no 
more, not at all raifed above : the petioles are round. 
Native both of the Eall and Weft Indies. 
7. Piper difcolor : leaves broad-ovate, five-nerved, very 
fmooth, difcoloured on the hinder part j fpikes more lax ; 
florets more remote. This is a fhrub, a fathom in height, 
with alternate ere£l fubdivided jointed round fmooth 
branches. Leaves alternate, broad-cordate or ovate, with 
a blunt point, entire, thickifh, veined, whitifh or very 
pale green underneath, fhining; two of the five nerves 
are marginal : joints fwelling : petioles channelled, 
fhort. There is no calyx, but an oblong fcale, within 
which are two very fhort evanefcent filaments, and two 
obovate whitifh antherre. It is dillinft from P. amalago 
in its wide very fmooth leaves, loofer fpikes, and more 
remote flowers. Native of high mountains in Jamaica; 
flowering in autumn. 
It varies with leaves attenuated at the bafe, and blunt, 
ovate, oblique. 
8. Piper medium: leaves ovate acuminate, oblique, 
fubcordate, at the bafe five-nerved ; fpikes axillary, 
nodding. This fpecies is fufliciently different from P. 
decumanum and reticulatum, on account of the five- 
nerved leaves, and the bafe of the leaves being very 
fnortly and not always cordate. It feems more allied to 
the next fucceeding fpecies; but differs from that in 
having the leaves fubcordate at the bafe, oblique and not 
fo roundly ovate. It has feveral trunks, eight feet high, 
two inches in diameter at the bafe, upright, jointed, 
knobbed, afh-coloured. Branches numerous, round, 
fwelling at the joints. Leaves alternate, three or five- 
nerved, quite entire, fmooth, netted underneath with 
tranfverfe veins, petioled, having a bitterifn aromatic 
tafte, and the fame fmell when bruifed. It feems to be a 
Vol.XX. No. 1385. 
middle fpecies between decumanum and reticulatum, and 
derives its trivial name from that circumftance. The 
native country is unknown. 
9. Piper amalago, or rough-leaved pepper: leaves 
lanceolate-ovate, five-nerved, wrinkled. This has feveral 
crooked ftems, which rife to the height of twelve or 
fourteen feet, jointed, hollow, and pithy; they divide into 
many fmall branches. Leaves three inches and a half 
long, one inch and a half broad, and rough. Spikes at 
the end of the branches, flender, three inches long, 
having many fmall feflile flowers, fucceeded by fmall 
berries. Browne calls it lmall-grained black pepper; and 
fays that it grows very common in mod of the hilly parts of 
Jamaica, looking very bufliy, and fpreading on account 
of its flender flexile branches; it begins to divide very 
near the root, and rifes in tufts, frequently to the height 
of fix or eight feet or more. The berries differ from the 
black pepper of the Eaft Indies only in fize, being feldotn 
bigger than a large muftard-feed ; but the tafte and 
flavour is in every refpeft the fame: the leaves and 
growth of the fhrub very nearly refemble that delineated 
in the Hortus Malabaricus, but the plant is neither fo 
luxuriant nor fucculent. Browne ufed it for many 
months, and could not perceive any fenfible difference 
between it and that of the Eaft, either in cookery or 
feafoning. It fliould be picked when full grown, but 
before it ripens; for, like the pimento and other fpicy 
grains, it grows foft and fucculent by maturity, and 
demits the pungent flavour: it may then be dried in the 
fun like the pimento, and left adhering to the fpikes, 
which feem to have the fame flavour and pungency with 
the grain itfelf, and are as eafily ground in the mill. 
The leaves and tender fhoots are ufed in difcutient 
baths and fomentations, and fometimes are pounded and* 
applied to foul ulcers: the root is warm, and may be 
fuccefsfully adminiftered as a refolutive, fudorific, or 
diaphoretic; but it anfwers bell in infufions or light 
deco&ions, which may be varied in ftrength as occafion 
requires. There is no deobftruent of this nature that 
anfwers better in dropfies, or lighter obftruftions from a 
lentor or inertion. Native not only of Jamaica, but of 
Hifpaniola, Barbadoes, and probably other parts of the 
Weft Indies. Cultivated by Mr. Miller in 1759. 
10. Piper firiboa : leaves cordate, commonly feven- 
nerved, veined. Stems hollow, flirubby, about four feet 
high, dividing into many fmall branches. Leaves about 
five inches long, and four broad near their bafe, ending in 
long acute points; they have feven veins at the bafe, but 
the two outer foon diverge to the borders of the leaves, 
and unite with them, the other five are extended almoft 
to the length of the leaves, diverging from the midrib 
towards the lides, and unite near the top. The fpikes 
come out from the fide of the branches ; they are flender, 
and about four inches long, bending in the middle like a 
bow, and are clofely fet with fmall herbaceous flowers, 
.which are fucceeded by fmall berries, inclofing a {Ingle 
feed. Mr. Robert Millar fent it from Panama. Native 
of the Eaft Indies, and New Caledonia. Cultivated by 
Mr. Miller in 1759. 
n. Piper excelfum: leaves orbicular-cordate; com¬ 
monly feven nerved ; peduncles terminating, folitary, 
bifid ; Item arboreous. Native of New Zealand. 
12. Piper longum, or long pepper: leaves cordate, 
petioled, and feflile. Stems flirubby, round, fmooth, 
branched, flender, climbing, but not to any confiderable 
height. Leaves differing much in fize and form; but 
commonly heart-fliaped, pointed, entire,, fmooth, nerved, 
deep-green, alternate. Flowers fmall, in fhort denfe 
terminating fpikes, which are nearly cylindrical. Native 
of the Eaft Indies ; efpecially Java, Malabar, and Bengal. 
The berries are very fmall, and lodged in a pulpy 
matter: like thofe of black pepper, they are firft green, 
and become red when ripe: they are hottell to the tafte 
in the immature ftate, and are therefore gathered whilft 
green, and dried in the fun, when they change to a 
6 L blackifh 
