162 . ORD. VIII. Sarmentacee. smirax SARSAPARILDA. 
bd 
“According to Mr. Aiton it was first cultivated in this country by Mr. 
Forster in 1691.* 
Though this is the plant which i is considered by Linnzus as fur- 
nishing the officinal Sarsaparilla, yet there are other writers who 
contend that this medicine is the root of the Smilax aspera L. which 
is said to correspond with the Sarsaparilla im every respect.°~ Sir 
William Fordyce, who has investigated the subject, says, “ Prosper 
Alpinus has put it beyond all doubt, by the appearance of the 
smilax aspera, which he found in soft grounds in the island of Zant, 
(Zacynthus) that Europe, and the Grecian islands: in particular, 
furnish the true Sarsaparilla, or Smilax aspera peruviana dicta of C. 
Bauhine.”* But this synonym is referred to the Smilax Sarsaparilla 
by Linnzus, whose authority we have followed, along with Murray 
and Bergius, in preference to that of-Alpinus. Besides it may be 
remarked, that in Spain, Italy, and other parts of Europe, where 
‘the Smilax aspera grows in abundance, the American Sarsaparilla 
is still employed, and imported at a great expence. It is probable 
however. thas, these two Anecies of the same genus, and of the same 
0D. aEeweato > angulato, may-have roots roots. of similar 
‘appearance ond coos ng we have already noticed that not only 
different Species, but even different genera in some instances, pro- 
duce the same. drug. 
« This root has_a fucitincedus somewhat bitterish taste, and no 
smell. To water it communicates a reddish brown, to rectified spirit 
a yellowish red tincture, but gives no considerable taste, to either 
_menstruum, An extract, obtained by inspissating the. spirituous 
tincture, has a weak somewhat nauseous balsamic bitterness, which 
is followed by a slight but durable pungency. . The watery.extract 
is much weaker, and in larger quantity.” ~ 
Sarsaparilla was more than two centuries ago 2 areadinced into 
@ Vide Hort. Kew 
® See P. Alpinus Plant. Egypt. p- 136. iis Fallopius, Amatus Lusitanus, 
pe yanme Be Tobias Aldinus, Monardes, &c. who all either think it the same, or 
cy 
© See Med, Obs. & Ing. vol, i. p.173. 4 Lewis M, M. p: 586, 
This plant is a native of America, and flowers in July and August. 
