348 PLANT NAMES AND SYNONYMS 



1865. SMILAX, L. Sarsaparilla, etc. Smilaceae* 

 Greek name of Yew, also of an Oak. Syn. Coprosraanthug, 



in part. Perennial climbers, commonly shrubby. About 195 

 species, most abundant in tropical America and Asia; 18 in 

 U. S. 



a. S. dspera L. Mediterranean region to India. Italian Sarsa- 



par ila, Rough Bindweed. Properties of (e). 



b. S. China L. Japan and eastern Asia. Rhizome, China-root, 



Radix (Rhizoma s. Tuber) Chinae; Ger. Chinawurzel, Pocken- 

 wurzel, Cbinaknolle; Fr. Squine (Codex); alterative. 



c. S. glycyphylla Smith. Australia. Botany Bay Tea, Sweet Tea. 



Leaves used instead of tea. Boot alterative. 



d. S. herbacea L. (C. herbaceusKunth, S. pulverulenta Michx.), 



Canada and eastern U. S. Carrion-flower, American Jacob's- 

 ladder. 



e. S. medica Sch. & Cham. Mexico. Mexican Sarsaparilla. 



Source of the Vera Cruz and Tanapico Sarsaparilla. The word 

 Sarsaparilla is from the Spanish, meaning "bramble-vine". 

 Root [of this and (f)]; Sarsaparilla, U. S. P., Sarsse Radix 

 Br., Radix sarsaparillae 8. sarsae;Ger. Sarsaparille, Sassaparille, 

 Stechwindenwurzel, Sarsa; Fr. Salsepareille du Mexique (Co- 

 dex); Sp. Zarzaparilla; alterative. 



f. S. offlcindlis Humb. & Kunth. New Granada. Source of 



Jamaica Sarsaparilla (the only variety recognized in the British 

 Pharmacopoeia), Red Sarsaparilla, Bearded Sarsaparilla. See 



(e). 



g. S. papynicea Duham. Guiana to Brazil. This species yields a 



portion of the Brazilian Sarsaparilla (Rio Negro, Para or 

 Lifc.bon Sarsaparilla), the exact botanical source of the several 

 varieties being not yet ascertained. Other species which fiiniish 

 medicinal sarsaparilla are (h) S. cordato-ovata Richard, (i) 

 S. eucalyptifolia Kunth.; (j) S. orndta Hook. f. ; (k) S. 

 scabriiiscula Kunth, and (1) S. syphilitica Kunth. 



m. S. Pseudo-China L. Southeastern U. S. Bamboo Brier, 

 American China-root, False or Bastard China-root, Long-stalk- 

 ed Green-brier, Bull-brier. Rhizome alterative. The rhizome 

 of (n) S. B6na-nox L. (S. hastata Willd., S. tamnoides A. 

 Gray, not L. ), Bristly or Fiddle-shaped Green-brier, is also 

 used. 



<). S. rotundifolia L. (S. caduca L., S. quadrangularis Willd.). 

 Ontario and eastern U. S. Green-brier, Cat-brier, Horse-brier, 

 Bamboo-brier, Biscuit-leaves, Bread-and-butter, Devil's Hop- 

 vine, Hungry-vine, Nigger-head, Wait-a-bit. Rhizome altera- 

 tive; largely used for making brier- wood pipes. 



1866. SMYRNIUM, L. Alexanders. Umbelliferae. 



From Greek name of Myrrh. Herbs. About 8 species, 

 middle and eastern Europe. (a) S. Oliisatrum L. Alexan- 

 ders, Alisander ( Alshinder, Elshinder), Horse Parsley, Wild 

 Celery, Wild or Macedonian Parsley, Meg-weed, Stan-march. 

 Leajstalks used like celery. 



