152. (Fig. 150.) PIMENTA. Pimenta.

Coarse powder, as a spice.

Allspice, E. Nelkenpfeffer, Neugewürz. Englisches Gewürz, G. Piment de la Jamaique, Touteepice, Fr.

The fruit, nearly ripened, of Pimenta officinalis Lindley, Myrtaceæ. Dull reddish brown, somewhat oily.

Aromatic; recalling cloves.

Very pungent.

Epidermis of pericarp of small cells; some short, simple, single celled, more or less bent and twisted, thick-walled trichomes. Parenchyma cells with small, simple, spherical and compound starch granules, rather small aggregate crystals of calcium oxalate and resin bearing cells. Large resin reservoirs. Larger and smaller thickwalled, very finely porous sclerenchyma cells. Endosperm cells with starch and resin.

Ash 4 per cent.

Adulterated with various vegetable substances.

153. (Fig. 151.) PIPER. Black Pepper. U. S.
Fl. ex. 60. Coarse powder, as a spice.

Schwarzer Pfeffer, G. Poivre noir, Fr.

The unripe fruit of Piper nigrum L., Piperaceæ.
Dark gray to mottled gray.

Aromatic; pepper odor.

Extremely pungent.

Small epidermal cells (of pericarp) with dark coloring matter; below this radially elongated, reddish brown, rather small, thick-walled porous, sclerenchyma cells. Reddish brown pericarp parenchyma. One layer of seed coat of small, porous sclerenchyma cells with outer walls very thin; small celled pigment layer. Endosperm cells large, prismatic, very thin-walled and entirely filled with uniform, small, polygonal simple starch granules; some cells filled with resin. Ash 6 per cent.

Ash of pepper refuse 10.25 per cent.

Adulterated with flour, starches, mustard, husks, capsicum, flaxseed fruit of allied species. The most common adulterant is black pepper refuse (tailings and screenings from the milling). Poor grinding peppers are used. Mold may be excessive. (See white pepper.)

154. PIPER. White Pepper.

Weisser Pfeffer, G.

Coarse powder as a spice.

Origin as for black pepper. The ripe fruits deprived of epicarp and mesocarp are used.

Ash gray.

Aromatic; pepper odor.

Very pungent; less pungent than black pepper.

Histology as for black pepper, excepting that the epidermis, outer sclerenchyma cells and most of the pericarp parenchyma cells are wanting.

Ash 2 per cent.

Adulterations as for black pepper. Long pepper (Piper longum) has no resin bearing cells in endosperm and cells are smaller. The majority of adulterants differ very markedly histologically and are readily detected microscopically. Nut shells are also very extensively used as an adulterant of pepper. Further, winnowings and refuse, stems, date, olive and other seed shells and hulls.

155. (Fig. 152.) PODOPHYLLUM. May Apple. U. S.

Fl. ex. 60.

Mandrake root, E. Fussblattwurzel, G. Rhizome de podophyllum, Fr.

The rhizomes and rootlets of Podophyllum peltatum L., Berberidaceæ.

Light grayish brown.

Nearly odorless.

Sweetish, very bitter, somewhat pungent.

Some brown cork tissue, Parenchyma cells thick-walled, loosely united, filled with compound (mostly twos and threes) starch granules and aggregates of granules. Some cells with quite large aggregate crystals of calcium oxalate. Reticulate, porous, and a few spiral ducts.

Ash 4 per cent.

Not generally adulterated. Leaf stalks may be added. May be gathered out of season.