"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…

"It is said to be ovate when it has the outline of the longitudinal section of an egg."—Darby, 1855

Ovate Leaf

"It is said to be ovate when it has the outline of the longitudinal section of an egg."—Darby,…

This illustration shows leaves derived from the oval type:
13. Ovate and Serrate; 14. Palmately three cleft.

Leaves Derived from the Oval Type

This illustration shows leaves derived from the oval type: 13. Ovate and Serrate; 14. Palmately three…

This illustration shows 4 types of simple leaves:
1. Linear (an elongated version of the elliptical); 2. Lanceolate; 3. elliptical; 4. ovate.

Types of Simple Leaves

This illustration shows 4 types of simple leaves: 1. Linear (an elongated version of the elliptical);…