The disclosed depithing apparatus separates fibrous vegetable materials into useful fiber and discardable pith portions for papermaking or the like. The apparatus is vertically constructed to provide gravity feed therethrough for the vegetable materials. Rotating hammers projecting from a rotor break up the materials and centrifugally force the pith through a surrounding screening member. Separate vertically oriented discharge chutes below the rotor convey the separated fiber and pith out of the apparatus, and a baffle is provided to direct the pith into its respective discharge chutes to prevent clogging. Separate embodiments of the apparatus are shown for use in existing sites having limited headroom or insufficient room for full length discharge chutes.