Refugium Botanicum.| (April, 1868. 
TAB. 12. 
Natural Order PIPERACEZ. 
Genus Prergromia, R. & P. 
Sect. Microriver, Miquel. Bacca sessilis. Caulescentes ramose. Flores 
seepe remotiusculi. Ovarium ovatum, oblongum, apice stigmati- 
ferum. 
P. petiucipa (fH. B. K. Nov. Gen. Tom. i. p. 64). Succulento-pellucida 
glabra, ramis levibus dichotomis, foliis deltoideo-cordatis, obtusius- 
cule acuminatis, glabris, quinquenervis, amentis breviter peduncu- 
culatis axillaribus terminalibusve filiformibus erectis, folio bis terve 
superantibus, bracteis oblongis excentrice peltatis, ovario oblongo- 
cylindrico, apice stigmatifero.— Pl. Avquin. Tom. ii. p. 58; Kunth, 
Synop. 1. p. 117; Miquel, Systema, p. 79; Griseb. Flora, p. 165. 
Piper pellucidum, Linn. Syst. Veg. Hort. Cliff. tab. 4; Plumier, 
bay be 
Extends from the West Indies southward to Brazil and Peru. 
Stem erect, about two feet high, copiously branched, weak, 
fleshy, about a quarter of an inch thick at the base, like the rest 
of the plant naked, and in colour a very pale pellucid green. 
Internodes one to two inches long. Leaves alternate, the lower 
ones stalked, the upper nearly sessile, cordate-ovate, the larger 
ones an inch and a half long by more than half as broad, often 
decurved, the texture thin but fleshy, the under surface very pale 
and shining, the veins prominent. Spikes short-stalked, copious, 
one to two inches long, under a line think, narrowed gradually 
upwards. Flowers with a considerable space between them, the 
bract oblong, obtuse, green, attached a little above its base. Ovary 
oblong, with a single two-celled anther on each side, crowned 
with the stigma. Berry oblong, longitudinally striated when dry. 
STAGE Be 
This delicate and fragile species of Peperomia, well named 
from its almost transparent stems, was obtained from chance 
seeds, which germinated in earth which was sent, with other 
plants, from Trinidad. It grows rapidly in turfy peat with plenty 
of drainage, and requires a damp stove-heat and not too much 
light. It seeds very freely. —W. W. S. 
