This section is from the book "Plants And Their Uses - An Introduction To Botany", by Frederick Leroy Sargent. Also available from Amazon: Plants And Their Uses; An Introduction To Botany.

Fig. 123.-Allspice (Pimento officinalis, Myrtle Family, Myrtaceoe). G, flowering branch. E, flower, lower part cut vertically. H, fruit, cut vertically, showing but one seed developed and this with a curved embryo which nearly fills the fruit, in the wall of which are numerous minute volatile oil cavities. (Niedenzu.)-Tree 10 m. or more in height with leathery aromatic leaves black-dotted beneath; flowers white; fruit fleshy, containing one or two seeds. Native to the West Indies and Central America, where they are often planted in rows called "pimento walks."

Fig. 124.-Black Pepper (Piper nigrum, Pepper Family, Piperacece). A, fruiting branch, 1/2. B, part of a spike showing three flowers, 4/1. C, fruit, cut vertically to show the seed within, its minute embryo in copious seed-food, 4/1. (Baillon.)-A woody vine, tall-climbing partly by means of roots; leaves evergreen; flowers minute; fruit red. Native home, India.

Fig. 125, I.-Red Pepper (Capsicum annuum, Nightshade Family, Solanaceoe). Fruiting plant, 1/8. (Vilmorin.)-An annual or biennial herb of shrubby appearance; leaves smooth; flowers whitish; fruit juiceless, red, yellow, or violet, very various in form and color. Native home, South America.

Fig. 125, II.-Red Pepper. Fruiting branch of the "Chili pepper," 1/3. (Vilmorin.)

Fig. 126.-Red Pepper. Flower, cut vertically, enlarged. Fruit cut aoross near the top and near the base showing the single cavity above becoming two cavities below; about natural size. Seed, cut vertically, enlarged. (Redrawn from Berg and Schmidt.)

Fig. 127.-Black Mustard (Brassica nigra, Mustard Family, Cruciferoe). Plant in flower and fruit, reduced. Pod. Seed, cut across showing the embryo with seed-leaves folded around the seed-stem, enlarged. (Britton and Brown.)-Annual, sometimes attaining a height of over 2 m.; leaves becoming smooth; flowers bright yellow; pods smooth; seeds dark brown. Native home, north temperate regions of Old World.

Fig. 128.-White Mustard (Sinajris alba, Mustard Family, Cruciferoe). Stem with leaves. Top showing flowers and fruit, reduced. Pod, about natural size. (Britton and Brown.)-Plant an annual about 30-60 cm. tall; leaves hairy; flowers yellow; pod bristly; seeds light brown. Native home, temperate regions of Eurasia, and Northern Africa.

Fig. 129.-Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans, Nutmeg Family, Myristicacece). A, fruiting branch showing a ripe fruit with pulp opening to let out the mace-covered seed, 3/8. B, stamens, enlarged. C, pistillate flower cut vertically, 3/1. p, perianth; g, pistil containing a single ovule. D, seed surrounded by the net-like "mace" (a). E, same, cut vertically to show the aril (a), the seed-coat (s), the seed-food (looking as if it had been chewed and hence described as "ruminate"), and the embryo (e). (Luerssen, Baillon.)-The plant is a tree attaining 20 m. in height; leaves evergreen; flowers pale yellowish; fruit dull orange color, downy, the pulp splitting open at maturity; seed brown, enveloped by a blood-red aril which like the seed is aromatic. Native home, Moluccas.

Fig. 130, I.-Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Laurel Family, Lciuraceoe). Leafy branch with flowers and fruit. (Baillon.)-A tree attaining about 10 m. with thick rough bark, and young branches prettily speckled with dark green and light orange; leaves leathery, shining, evergreen; flowers whitish, of disagreeable odor; fruit a white-spotted purplish-brown berry. Although volatile oil is found in various parts of the plant no odor is perceptible at a short distance. Native home, Ceylon, India.

Fig. 130, II.-Cinnamon. Flower complete, and cut vertically. (Baillon.)

Fig. 130, III.-Cinnamon. Floral diagram. (Baillon.)

Fig. 131.-Ginger (Zingiber officinale, Ginger Family, Zingerberaceoe). Plant showing roots, rootstock, leafy and flowering stems. Flower. Floral diagram. (Baillon.)-A biennial or perennial herb, about 60 cm. tall, with smooth leaves; flowers dingy yellow, aromatically fragrant; fruit a dry pod. Native home, India.
 
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