"A genus of order Piperaceae. The Piper nigrum, which furnishes the black pepper of commerse, is a native of the East Indies, where it is cultivated on an extensive scale. It is a climbing plant, which broad, ovate, acuminate leaves, and little globular berries, which, when ripe, are of a bright-red color. The pepper of Malacca, Java, and especially of Sumatra, is the most esteemed. Its culture has been introduced into various other tropical countries. White pepper is the best and soundest of the berries, gathered when fully ripe, and deprived of their external skin." — Winston's Encyclopedia, 1919

Black Pepper

"A genus of order Piperaceae. The Piper nigrum, which furnishes the black pepper of commerse, is a native…