SMILAX 517 



1 in. long. Flowers six to twelve in an umbel, the main-stalk of which is 

 j to I in. long. Berries red, in. wide. 



Native of S.E. Europe and Asia Minor ; introduced in 1739. From 

 S. aspera, the other but more western species of Europe, S. excelsa is 

 distinguished by its umbellate inflorescence. 



S. GLAUCA, Walter. SAW BRIER. 



A tall deciduous or partially evergreen climber, with round stems but 

 angled branches, sparsely or not at all prickly. Leaves ovate with broadly 

 tapering or rounded bases and fine points; i| to 3! ins. long, i to T.\ ins. 

 wide ; green above, glaucous beneath, with usually three prominent nerves 

 and two smaller ones at the margins; stalk \ to \ in. long. Flowers green, 

 produced three to eight together in small axillary umbels, the main-stalks of 

 which is \ to I in. long. Berries black with a glaucous bloom. 



Native of the eastern United States from Massachusetts southwards ; 

 hardy, and cultivated for seventy years at Kew. The glaucous colour of the 

 leaves beneath is its best distinguishing character. 



S. HISPIDA, Muhlenberg. HAG BRIER. 



A climbing deciduous shrub, with round stems furnished with slender 

 bristles and straight prickles, densely so towards the base; branches almost 

 without them. Leaves heart-shaped or broadly ovate, 2 to 6 ins. long, i^ to 

 4i ins. wide ; five- or sometimes nine-nerved, finely pointed, green on both 

 sides, margins often minutely jagged; stalk \ to f ins. long. Flowers greenish 

 yellow, borne on an umbel with a main-stalk i to 2 ins. long. Berries blue- 

 black, globose, about j in. wide. 



Native of the eastern and central United States and Ontario; introduced 

 early in the eighteenth century. This species thrives well in this country, 

 and is well marked by its large leaves and very bristly stems. 



S. LAURIFOLIA, Linnczus. 



An evergreen climber with thick, leathery leaves, 2 to 5 ins. long, f to 



2 ins. wide ; three-nerved, dark green and rather glossy above, oblong, 

 tapered or rounded at the base, and with usually a short, abrupt, fine point; 

 stalk \ to \ in. long. Flowers greenish, in umbels, the main-s.talk of which 

 is about as long as the leaf-stalk. Fruit to \ in. wide, one-seeded, black 

 when ripe, but taking two seasons to become so. 



Native of the south-eastern United States ; introduced in 1739. Very 

 distinct in its three-nerved, leathery, evergreen, and comparatively narrow 

 leaves, this is, unfortunately, rather tender, and has died out in the open 

 ground at Kew. It has succeeded well on a wall in the vicarage garden of 

 Bitton, near Bath, and is suitable for the south and west generally, where it 

 will make an interesting evergreen wall-covering. 



S. PSEUDO-CHINA, Linnceus. "CHINA" BRIER. 



Not much is known of this smilax in cultivation, and it is probably rather 

 tender. It appears to be naturally a vigorous climber, deciduous, with the 

 stems almost unarmed. Leaves large, ovate, five- or seven-nerved, green on 

 both sides, up to 4^ ins. long, by 3 ins. wide at the rounded or slightly heart- 

 shaped base; margins minutely jagged. Flowers dark green, and produced 

 numerously in umbels. From all the rest of the umbellate-flowered smilaxes 



