ROXBURGHIACEZX.—PHILESIACEX.—JUNCACEZ. 725 
about 120 species, but some botanists make the number con- 
siderably more. 
Properties and Uses.—The plants of this order generally 
possess alterative properties. 
Ripogonym parviflorum has similar properties to Sarsaparilla. (See 
Smilax.) It isa native of New Zealand, where it is much used as a reme- 
dial agent. 
Smilaz.—The roots of several species or varieties of Smilax constitute 
the Sarsaparilla of the Materia Medica, which is commonly regarded as 
a valuable alterative. It is extensively employed in syphilis, various 
cutaneous diseases, rheumatism, and many other affections. Several kinds 
of Sarsaparilla are known, of which the most esteemed is that called 
Jamaica Sarsaparilla, although it is not the produce of that island, but of 
Central America. It is obtained from 8S. officinalis. This kind is alone 
official in the British Pharmacopeia. Other kinds of Sarsaparilla dis- 
tinguished in commerce, are Mexican or Lean Vera Cruz, from S. medica ; 
Lisbon, Para, or Brazilian, from S. papyracea, and probably also from 
S. officinalis Guatemala, from S. papyracea ; Honduras, from also, I believe, 
S. papyracea ; and Guay aquil, from an unknown species. Several other 
ae of Smilax are likewise in use in different parts of the world, as SN. 
aspera in the South of Europe, where its roots are termed Italian Sarsa- 
parilla; S. glabra, S. lancifolia, S. ovalifola, and _S. prolifera in India ; 
S. olycuphylia in Australia, S. Macabucha in the Philippines, and 8. anceps 
in the Mauritius, &e.—S. China is commonly regarded as the source of the 
China Root of the Materia Medica; but others refer it to S. ferox of Wallich. 
Several spurious China Roots are in use in America; their sources are 
doubtful. 
Order 4. RoxBURGHIACE®, the Roxburghia Order.—Cha- 
racter.—Twining shrubs with tuberous roots. Leaves net- 
veined, leathery, broad. lowers large and showy, solitary, 
hermaphrodite. Perianth inferior, with 4 petaloid divisions. 
Stamens 4, hypogynous, with enlarged connectives; anthers 
introrse, apicilar. Ovary superior, 1-celled, with a basal pla- 
centa ; stigma sessile. Firwit 2-valved, 1-celled. Seeds numer- 
ous, in 2 stalked clusters, anatropous ; embryv in the axis of 
fleshy albumen. 
Distribution, Numbers, and Properties.—They are natives of 
the hotter parts of the East Indies. There is but one genus, 
Roxburghia, Dryand., which includes 4 species. Their proper- 
ties are unimportant. 
Order 5. PuitEstace#, the Philesia Order.— Diagnosis, 
de.—The plants of this order are closely allied to the Rox- 
burghiaceze, from which, however, they are readily distinguished 
by their hexamerous perianth and andrcoecium, perigynous 
stamens, parietal placentation, long style, and semi-anatropous 
ovules. They are natives of Chili. There are 2 genera— 
Philesia, Commers.; and Lapageria, fh. et P.—and2 species. In 
their properties they are said to resemble Sarsaparilla. (See 
Smilax.) This order is included in Liliacew by Bentham and 
Hooker. 
Order 6. Juncace#, the Rush Order.—C haracter.—Sedge 
