441 
6” broad. Peduncle about equal to the petiole. Berries globose, 
shortly pedicellate, 2’ in diameter. 
Scarcely to be separated from S. Wagneriana, which see. Man- 
zanilla Bay, Mexico. 
29. SMILAX OFFICINALIS H. B. K. Nov. Gen. 1: 271 (1815). 
Rootstock large and long, tuberous or with thickened nodes 
whence proceed numerous roots, 6-8 feet long, which form the 
officinal or “ Jamaica” Sarsaparilla of commerce. 
Glabrous. Stems numerous from the same rootstock, an- 
gular, armed with curved prickles; branches flexuous, cylindrical 
at first, becoming strongly quadrangular, armed like the stem 
Or often unarmed. Petiole 2-6”, becoming sometimes 2’ 
long, often twisted, quadrangular, often armed with a few straight 
Prickles beneath. Blade coriaceous, oblong-ovate, cordate, ab- 
tuptly acute or obtuse with a small hard central point at the apex, 
y-nerved, 5’-8’ long, 2/-2%4’ wide, the old leaves sometimes 
_ Teaching a length of 12’ and a breadth of 614’. Flowers and fruit 
not known. 
Attributed to Mexico by Presl. Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui. 
30. Smirax PaNAMENSIS Morong n. sp. 
_ Stem terete, unarmed, slightly pubescent here and there, 
iN specimens examined the female plant manifestly rusty- 
Pubescent, especially at the nodes, as well as on the peduncles 
and tendrils, becoming glabrate; branches flexuous. Pedicels 
68" long; stipular sheath about 4 as long as the petiole, with 
Narrow, even wings, often tendril-bearing. Blades glabrous, oblong- 
ovate or lanceolate, rounded, acute or semi-cordate at the base, — 
“ntire, pellucid-punctate, 5—7-nerved, the older ones 4’—5 14’ long, 
1'-2¥4' broad.’ Male peduncle flattened, solitary, sometimes 
2-3-branched or often 2 or 3 from the same axil, 8-12” long, 
frequently bearing scales, 8-1o-flowered. Pedicels very slender, 
attened, 2’"5”" long. Receptacles globose, 1%4’-1” in diameter ; 
Facteoles acuminate, ciliolate. Flower buds elliptical, about rd 
long ; segments of perianth elliptical, acute or obtuse, 2’—3” long ; 
stamens 5 and 6, included; anthers a little longer than the fila- 
ments. Fruit-bearing peduncle terete, occasionally pubescent, 
ta long, and judging from the foveole 30—40-flowered. 
argins of the foveole and the bracteoles woolly-pubescent. 
ties ovoid, 4’-5”” long, black with a reddish tinge in the dried 
ebecimens, 1-seeded. As the male flowers were collected in 
ctober and the fully ripe fruit in November of the same year, 
't would suggest the probability that the berries ripen in the 
Second year es ey : 
. 
* 
