POSITION.--Amarantaceæ.-CHENOPODIACE.r.-Phytolaccaceæ.

Scleranthaceœ.
Mesembryacea?

M. Moquin regards Thelygonum as being nearer Nettles.

ALLIANCE XXXIX. PIPERALES.-THE PIPERAL ALLIANCE. DIAGNOSIS.-Hypogynous Exogens, with achlamydeous flowers, and a minute embryo, at or near the outside of a large quantity of mealy albumen.

The resemblance to each other of the plants included in this Alliance is manifest; but their affinity to Chenopodals is obscure. It chiefly depends upon the assumption that Piperals stand in near relation to Urticals, and that Chenopodals are the bisexual analogue of the latter. Granting this, which seems to be supported by strong evidence, we must then suppose that Piperals are a lateral sprout from Chenopodals, directing itself, not onwards to the next Alliance, but backwards towards the frontiers of the Diclinous Sub-class, to which the occasional unisexuality of the flowers of Pepperworts and Chloranths evidently points.

Piperals are clearly indicated by their naked flowers, constantly orthotropal ovule, abundant mealy albumen, and minute embryo. which is either external, or only just within the surface of it.

NATURAL ORDERS OF PIPERALS.

Carpel solitary. Ovule erect. Embryo lying in vitellus. Leaves
opposite or alternate, with or without stipules
Carpel solitary. Ovule suspended. Embryo naked. Leaves
opposite, with intermediate stinu'es

Carpels several die mit stipule erect. Embryo lying in vite'tus. }

Leaves alternate, with stipules.

196. PIPERACEÆ.

197. CHLORANTHACEE.

198. SAURURACEE,

Piperaceae, Rich. in Humb. Bonpl. et Kunth. N. G. et Sp. Pl. 1. 39. t. 3. (1815); Meyer de Houttuynia atque Saurureis, (1827); Endl. Gen. lxxxi.; Meisner Gen. p. 335; Kunth in Linnæa, 13. 561; Miquel in Ann. Sc. n. s. 14. 167; 15. 285. Id.; Systema Piperacearum, 8vo.

DIAGNOSIS.-Piperal Exogens, with a solitary carpel, an erect ovule, an embryo lying in vitellus, and opposite or alternate leaves, with or without stipules.

Shrubs or herbaceous plants. Stems articulated. Leaves opposite, verticillate, or alternate in consequence of the abortion of one of the pair of leaves; stipules 0, or in

pairs, or single and opposite the leaf. Flowers usually sessile, sometimes pedicellate, in spikes which are either terminal, or axillary, or opposite the leaves, naked, Ø, with a bract on the outside. Stamens 2 or more, arranged on one side or all round the ovary; anthers 1- or 2celled, with or without a fleshy connective; pollen roundish, smooth. Ovary free, simple, 1-celled, containing a single erect, orthotropal ovule; stigma sessile, simple, rather oblique. Fruit free, somewhat fleshy, indehiscent, 1-celled, 1-seeded. Seed erect, with the embryo lying in a fleshy sac placed at the apex of the seed, on the outside of the albumen.

3

Fig. CCCLII. 4

However distinct the exogenous and endogenous forms of vegetation may be in the majority of the plants referred to those classes, it is well known that in certain cases such differences are much enfeebled. Of this Pepperworts are an instance. According to Richard, they are monocotyledonous; an opinion in which Blume concurs, after an examination of abundance of species in their native places of growth. But if the medullary rays constitute the great anatomical difference between these divisions of the vegetable kingdom (and I know of no other which is absolute), then Pepperworts are surely dicotyledonous, as is shown by Meyer (Dissertatio de Houttuynia, 38), and as may be ascertained by any one who will look at an old stem of a Pepper; add to this, the veins of the leaves, their distinct articulation with the stem, and the 2-lobed Fig. CCCLI.-Serronia Jaborandi. 1. a cluster of flowers magnified; 2. a ripe fruit; 3. a vertical section of the same, showing the seed and position of the embryo.

Fig. CCCLII.-Peperomia blanda. 1. a highly magnified view of a portion of a spike, with a few flowers attached; 2. a flower seen from the back, showing the ovary and two side anthers; 3. a section of the ovary, showing the ovule and its foranien; 4. a perpendicular section of a ripe fruit, showing the embryo lying in its vitellus.

embryo, and it seems impossible to doubt their being properly stationed among Dicotyledons. In Peperomia incana, the young stems are undoubtedly endogenous in appearance, but in P. nigrum and Lonchitis they are as certainly exogenous, and it is probable

that in the former case the wood eventually arranges itself in rows. It has, however, been remarked by Blume, that the oldest spiral vessels, and those which have acquired a woody consistence, occupy the circumference of the stem, while those more recently formed are seated towards its centre; and this is a point which, as Mr. Bennett has observed, requires a careful examination. Horsfield's Pl. Jav. p. 78. Pepperworts are related to Buckwheats, Saururads, and Nettles; from all which, however, they are

Exclusively confined to the hottest parts of the world, they are extremely common in tropical America and the Indian Archipelago, but, according to Brown, are very rare in equinoctial Africa. Only three species have been found on the west coast; several exist at the Cape of Good Hope. They delight in low places, valleys, and the banks of

rivers.

These plants are for the most part pungent aromatics, a property which they derive from the presence of a peculiar acrid resin, an ethereal oil, and a crystalline matter called Piperine. But they are also astringents and narcotics, and sometimes are so in

Great numbers of species occur in books as aromatics. That which is most extensively employed is Piper nigrum, whose drupes, when dried with the flesh upon them, form both the Black Pepper of the shops, and White Pepper, when that flesh is removed by washing. Although principally employed as a condiment, in order to excite the stomach and promote digestion, Pepper is also extensively employed in medicine in the form of an ointment mixed with lard, against tinea capitis, in relaxed uvula, and paralysis of the tongue; and infused in spirit and water it is a popular remedy against the return of a paroxysm of intermitting fever. It has been recommended by the Italians for this purpose, and is said to be more certain and speedy, and also milder in its operation than the Cinchona alkalies. See Pereira in Med. Gaz. xx. 180. In excessive doses Pepper is a dangerous stimulant. The fruit of Piper trioicum is said to be still more pungent. The female spikes of Chavica Roxburghii (Piper longum), dried, form the long pepper of the shops. The root and thickest part of the stems cut into small slices and dried, are much consumed for medical purposes in India under the name of Pippula Moola. The

effects of Long Pepper are analogous to those of Black Pepper; some consider it less powerful, others are agreed in its being the more acrid of the two. Chavica Chaba, pepuloides, and sylvatica, are employed in India as substitutes for this sort of Pepper. In tropical America similar uses are made of Chavica officinarum (P. Amalago), Artanthe adunca, Peltobryon longifolium, Artanthe trichostachya, and crocata. The aromatic roots of many species are officinal in some countries. A decoction of Artanthe eucalyptifolia is used in Brazil as a cure for colic, pains in the limbs, and flatulence. The root of P. Parthenium is administered in Brazil, under the name of Paribaroba, in amenorrhoea, leucorrhoea, and excessive menstrual discharges; that of Serronia Jaborandi, and Enckea unguiculata and glaucescens is held to be sialagogue and diuretic, and is employed for similar purposes. Pothomorpha sidæfolia (or umbellata) and subpeltata are also said to act as powerful stimulants of the lymphatic system, as deobstruents of some energy, and also for cleansing foul ulcers.-Martius.

Another class of remedial agents consists of those Pepperworts which possess the power of allaying inflammation of the urethra and mucous membrane of the intestinal canal. The best known of these species are Cubeba officinalis, canina, Wallichii, and others, whose ripe fruits are sold in the shops under the name of Cubebs. They are aromatic, pungent, stimulant, and purgative, and act as a specific in stopping gonorrhoeal discharges. According to Martius, Artanthe adunca has the same effect in Brazil; and the Peruvian Artanthe elongata has a similar reputation. Of the narcotic Pepperworts the Ava or Macropiper methysticum is most celebrated. It has a thick, woody, rugged, aromatic rhizome, used in tincture against chronic rheumatism. Macerated in water it forms an intoxicating beverage, employed by the Otaheitans to cure venereal affections; they make themselves drunk, after which very copious perspiration comes on; this lasts three days, at the end of which time we are told that the patient is cured. The leaves of Chavica Betle and Siriboa are chewed by the Malays with lime and slices of the nut of Areca oleracea or the Pinang Palm. They produce intoxicating effects, stimulate powerfully the salivary glands and digestive organs, and diminish the perspir

ation of the skin.

As an astringent, a plant called Matico, and supposed to be Artanthe elongata (Piper angustifolium), is found to be a most powerful styptic and a valuable remedy in certain diseases of the genital organs and rectum. It is much used in South America and Belgium, to stop the hemorrhage from small vessels, leech-bites, or incised wounds. It may be applied in leaf, or in fine powder. It is said also to be taken internally for the same purpose, in the form of infusion, in the proportion of about half an ounce to a pint of boiling water. In Peru the plant is called Moho Moho, and is extensively used for the same purposes as Cubebs, which this Pepper much resembles in smell. account of it has been given in the Pharmaceutical Journal, 3. 472, from which the annexed figure is borrowed, with the permission of the editor. It is, however to be observed, that the Peruvians apply the name Matico to the Eupatorium glutinosum, a very different plant.

An

Many other species of this Order are to be found mentioned as plants possessing useful properties; of which here is only space to name Acrocarpidium hispidulum, a West Indian plant used as a bitter and stomachic, Peperomia pellucida as a salad, Coccobryon capense a Cape stomachic, Artanthe adunca and Chavica majuscula, whose bark is rubefacient, and used in Java against rheumatism, and Artanthe crocata, whose spikes of fruit are employed in dyeing yellow.