2.512 



ARBOUETUM AND FRUTICETUM. 



PAHT III. 



native of North and South America. Introduced before 1664', and flowering 

 in July and August. 



Description, ^-c. Stems shrubby, long, slender, and climbing. Roots di- 

 vided into several long slender branches, which are somewhat thicker than a 

 goose-quill, straight, brown on their exterior, but 

 white internally, and from 3 ft. to 4 ft. long. Leaves 

 alternate and pointed, with long tendrils at the base. 

 Flowers lateral, usually three or four together on one 

 common peduncle. A native of Peru, Brazil, Mexico, 

 and Virginia. It is included in Evelyn's Kalendar, as 

 having been in cultivation before 1664; but, according 

 to Plukenet, it was first brought to England by Mr. 

 Foster, in 1691. Caspar Bauhin informs us that the 

 root was introduced into Spain from Mexico, as a 

 medicine, in 1573; but Monarda asserts that it was 

 known there twenty or thirty years previously. Sar- 

 saparilla, on its first introduction, was considered as a 

 specific against numerous disorders ; but it has since 

 gradually fallen into disuse. It is, however, still occa- 

 sionally employed in rheumatic complaints, scrofula, 

 and all cutaneous diseases, " where an acrimony of the fluids prevails." The 

 plant is at Messrs. Loddiges's, and in the Botanic Garden, Twickenham ; 

 but it does not grow so freely as S. aspera, and is somewhat tender. 



i- 5. S. hastaVa Willd. The spear-shaped Smilax. 



Identification. Willd. Sp. PI., 4. p. 782. ; Pursh Fl. Amer. Sept., 1. p. 249.; Lodd. Cat., ed. 1836. 

 Synonymes. S. B6na nux Michx. Fl. Amer., 2. p. 237., H'alt. Fl. Car., 245. ; S. dspera var. Lam. 



Encyc, 6. p. 465. 

 Engraving. Pluk. Aim., t. 111. f. 3. 



2383 

 Spec. Char. Stern subarmed. Leaves lanceolate, acuminate ; 

 auriculate, or spear-shaped, at the base ; ciliated or prickly 

 on the margin; .3 — 5 nerves. Berries round. {Willd.) 

 A native of the sea coast of Carolina and Florida. Intro- 

 duced in 1820. 

 Varieti/. 



fl- S. ^. 2 layjccolata Pursh Fl. Amer. Sept., i. p. 249. ; 

 S. lanceolata Walt. Fl. Car., 245. ; ? S. longifolia 

 WntH. Bend. Brit., t. 1 10. ; and om fig. 2.385. ; S. 

 Watsonz Sweet ; has the leaves longer and narrower 

 than the species, and not spear-shaped at the 

 base. 



Desaiption, SfC. A weak climbing shrub, with subangular, 

 green, smooth branches, with horizontal, acute, short spines. 

 Leaves alternate, glabrous, and of the same colour on both 

 sides ; and with long spiral tendrils. There are plants at 

 Messrs. Loddiges's. 



fl- 6. S. Walte'r// Pursh. Walter's Smilax. 



Identification. Pursh Fl. Amer. Sept., 1. p. 249. 

 Synonyme. S. China Walt. Fl. Car., p. 245. 



Spec. Char., Sfc. Stem prickly. Leaves ovate-cordate, smooth, 3-nerved. 

 Berries acuminate. (Pursh.) A native of the low sandy parts of Virginia 

 and Carolina, on the river sides. It is rather ornamental, from the shape 

 of its leaves, and its having red berries. It was supposed by Walter to be 

 S. China ; but it differs in its leaves having only 3 nerves, and in some other 

 particulars. It is rather tender. There are plants in the Horticultural 

 Society's Garden, against the conservative wall. 



