32. Smilax Brionie nigre folis caule fpinofo, baccis nigris. 
The Smilax with briony leaves. 
This plant fhoots forth with many pliant thorny ftems; which, when at full bignefs, are 
as big as a walking-cane, and jointed; and rifes to the height ufually of twenty feet, climbing 
-— upon and fpreading over the adjacent trees and fhrubs by the affiftance of its tendrels. In 
Autumn it produces clufters of black round berries, hanging pendent to a foot-ftalk about 
_ three inches long; each berry containing a very hard roundifh feed. The roots of this plant 
are tuberous, divided by many knots and joints; and when firft dug out of the ground are foft 
- and juicy, but harden in the air to the confiftence of wood. Of thefe roots the inhabitants 
of Carolina make a diet-drink, attributing great virtues to it in cleanfing the blood, &c. They 
likewife in the Spring boil the tender fhoots, and eat them prepared like afparagus. It is called 
4 3. Smilax non {pinofa, humilis baccis rubris. 
The Smilax with red berries. 
Thefe plants are always fupported by trees and fhrubs, on which they creep, and clafp with 
their tendrels. The leaves are long and narrow at both ends; they are thick, ftiff, and fhining, 
with a -fingle rib in the middle, and are fet alternately at wide diftances: at the ends of the 
{maller branches are produced hexapetalous greenifh-white flowers, which grow in umbelliferous 
tufts, and are fucceeded by globular mucilaginous red berries, each berry containing a very hard 
roundith ftone. Thefe plants with their glittering {carlet fruit, and by retaining their green 
leaves, make an elegant appearance all the winter; at which time the berries ferve as food to 
_ thrufhes and other birds, and the whole plant as a warm fhelter for them i in that cold feafon: 
they ufually grow in bogs and watry places in Virginia and Carolina. I never knew them raifed 
om their feeds, which being exceeding hard, eis to be fown in moift earth. 
“3 — = <—— ~S 34. Barba 
