XLI. THE GREEN BRIAR, 533 



The properties are various. Sarsaparilla, well known for its 

 diuretic, demulcent and diaphoretic powers, is the root of one or 

 several species of Smilax ; and other species are known to have 

 similar properties. Dr. Barton found the same in the root of 

 Medeola Virginica. Some species of Trillium, remarkable for 

 the three-fold arrangements of its parts, its 3 leaves, 3 sepals, 

 3 petals, twice 3 stamens, 3-celled ovary, and 3 styles, have 

 nauseous berries and violently emetic roots. The large fleshy 

 roots of China Smilax are eaten in the Celestial Empire instead 

 of rice, and supposed by the Abbe Rochon to contribute to the 

 corpulency of the Chinese. A reddish powder is obtained by 

 maceration in water from the roots of the same plant, and, with 

 boiling water, forms a jelly, which, sweetened with honey or 

 sugar, is used as an article of food, according to De Candolle, 

 in the southern parts of North America. 



THE GREEN BRIAR. SMILAX. 



The different sexes on different plants. The flowers have a 

 perianth of 6 parts. In the male flowers, the 6 stamens have 

 their anthers laterally attached. The fertile flowers have a 

 minute style, 3 stigmas, and produce a berry with 3 cells, and 

 1 to 3 seeds in each. They are often climbing, prickly plants ; 

 sometimes herbaceous. The stem of the leaf has a tendril on 

 each side. Flowers transient in axillary umbels. 



The genus contains nearly fifty species, of which fourteen, 

 according to Nuttall, belong to North America. Two are found 

 in Massachusetts : 



The Round-leaved Green Briar, known by its climbing, round, 

 thorny stem ; and 



The Carrion Flower or Herbaceous Smilax, known by its 

 angular, nodding stem, and the intolerable smell of its flowers. 



Sp. 1. Round-leaved Smilax. Green Briar. S. rotundifblia. L. 



Figured in Audubon's Birds, I, Plate 57. 



This is a beautiful but very troublesome vine, climbing with 

 a smooth, yellowish-green stem, from clump to clump, and 

 from tree to tree, to the distance often of thirty or forty feet. 



