Herbs or shrubs, often aromatic and stimulating. Leaves alternate or opposite or whorled, simple, entire; stipules wanting, or 2 connate, or adnate to the petiole. Flowers minute, hermaphrodite or unisexual, crowded on axillary or terminal catkin-like spikes, each subtended by a sessile or stipitate bract. Perianth wanting. Stamens 2 or more, hypogynous; filaments very short; anthers often jointed on the filaments, cells 2 or confluent. Ovary (except in the tribe Saurureœ, which does not occur in New Zealand) 1-celled, with a single orthotropous ovule; style wanting or very short; stigmas 1–6, various in shape. Fruit a small indehiscent berry. Seed solitary, globose or ovoid or oblong; albumen copious, farinaceous; embryo very minute, enclosed in a sac at the apex of the seed.

A large order, with some trifling exceptions confined to tropical and subtropical regions, and far more abundant in tropical America than anywhere else. Genera 8; species given at 1000, but probably overestimated. Aromatic and stimulating properties prevail through the greater part of the order. The common, pepper has been used as a spice since the times of Alexander, and other species of: Piper can be similarly employed. The use of the betel (Piper betel) as a masticatory is well known, also that of the kava (Piper methysticum) to prepare an intoxicating drink. The two New Zealand genera are the largest in the order, and have the widest range.

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Usually shrubby. Anther-cells 2, distinct. Stigmas 2–4	1. Piper.
Small fleshy herbs. Anther-cells confluent. Stigmas usually penicillate. Fruit very small	2. Peperomia.