SMILACEJE. 513 



style bifid; stigmas undivided. Fruit a compressed trilocular capsule, 

 with 2 cells, sometimes abortive, occasionally fleshy and indehiscent. 

 Seeds compressed, winged or wingless, in the succulent fruit, ovate ; 

 embryo small, near the hilum, lying in a large cavity of cartilaginous 

 albumen. Twining shrubs, with large epigeal or hypogeal tubers, 

 alternate, sometimes opposite, reticulated leaves, and small, spiked, 

 bracteated flowers. Natives chiefly of tropical countries; a few only 

 found in temperate regions. There are 6 genera, according to Lindley, 

 and 110 species. Examples Dioscorea, Tamus. 



1050. Although farinaceous matter exists in the tubers of many 

 species, yet there is a prevalent acridity throughout the order. Vari- 

 ous species of Dioscorea, as D. alata, sativa, and aculeata, produce the 

 tubers called Yams, which are used in warm countries as a substitute 

 for the potato. Testudinaria Elephantipes is the Tortoise plant of the 

 Cape, or Elephant's-foot, so called on account of its peculiar shortened 

 and thickened stem (^[ 92). Tamus communis, Black Bryony, is com- 

 mon in hedges in England. It produces red succulent fruit, and has 

 a large root, which is acrid. The acridity of the order sometimes 

 manifests itself in purgative qualities. 



1051. Order 182. Smiiacete, the Sarsaparilla Family. (Mono- 

 perigyn.) Flowers bisexual or polygamous. Perianth petaloid, 6- 

 parted. Stamens 6, inserted into the base of the perianth, rarely 

 hypogynous. Ovary free, 3-celled; cells uni- or multi-ovulate ; ovules 

 orthotropal; styles usually 3-cleft; stigmas 3. Fruit globular and 

 succulent. Seeds with fleshy, cartilaginous albumen ; embryo very 

 small; usually distant from the hilum. Herbs or undershrubs, often 

 climbing, with netted-veined leaves. Natives of the temperate and 

 tropical regions of Asia and America. There are 4 or 5 known genera, 

 and upwards of 120 species. Examples Smilax, Philesia. 



1052. Mucilaginous and demulcent properties prevail throughout 

 the order. The root of various species of Smilax constitutes the Sar- 

 saparilla or Sarza of the pharmacopoeias. Linnaeus considered Smilax 

 Sarsaparilla, a native of the United States, as the plant which furnished 

 Sarsaparilla, but recent observers state that this is not the ease. The 

 following are enumerated as sources whence Sarsaparilla of various 

 kinds is derived: 



1. Smilax officinalis, found iu woods near the Rio Magdalena in Columbia. 



It furnishes Jamaica Sarza, which is the best in the market. 



2. Smilax medica, native of the Mexican Andes. It is thought to furnish 



Vera Cruz Sarza. 



3. Smilax syphilitica, found in Brazilian Guiana. It in part supplies Brazil 



and Lisbon Sarza. 



4. Smilax cordato-ovata, a Brazilian species. Brazil Sarza in part. 



5. Smilax papyracea, a Brazilian species. Brazil and Lisbon Sarza in part. 



6. Smilax Brasiliensis, a Brazilian species. Brazil Sarza. 



7. Smilax, sp. ? from Angostura, supplies Rio Negro Sarza. 



8. Smilax, sp.? from Honduras, supplies Honduras Sarza. 



2L 



