134 



545. SMILAX SPECIES, continued. 



g. Guatemala sarsaparilla. 



Note. This sarsaparilla is described and figured by Prof. Bentley, in 

 P. J. [1] , voL xii., p. 479. In appearance it approaches the Garaccas 

 more nearly than any other, but differs in its brighter orange brown 

 colour, and in being deprived of the chump. It is referred by him 

 to S. papyracea, Pair., but with this opinion Hanbury does not agree. 

 Pharmacographia, p. 645. It is a starchy sarsaparilla. 



Although all the above starchy sarsaparillas have a thick white cortical 

 portion throughout a considerable portion of their roots, yet they have 

 often only a thin brown cortical portion near the chump, and vary ex- 

 ceedingly in different parts. They are therefore usually distinguished in 

 commerce by the way in which they are packed, and by the fracture 

 being powdery or not when the root is broken. 



Ji. Jamaica sarsaparilla. Two large bundles. 



i. Ditto. Two small ^bundles. 



_;'. Ditto. One plaited bundle. 



Note. This sarsaparilla is usually distinguished by its reddish brown 

 colour, dark brown cortical portion, and by having an abundance of 

 beard or rootlets. Specimens h and j are figured and described in Per. 

 Mat. Med., vol. ii., pt. i., p. 281. It yields one third of its weight of 

 extract. For micr. sect., see Berg, Anat. Atlas, taf. iv., fig. 17. 



A*. Lima sarsaparilla. Two large bundles. 

 Z. Two small bundles. 

 in. Two specimens of the chump. 



Note. This sarsaparilla] closely resembles Jamaica in external ap- 

 pearance, but has not the reddish brown tint of the Jamaica variety. 

 The rhizome, or chump, is usually contained in the interior of the bun- 

 dle. It yields less extract than the Jamaica kind, but is probably 

 produced by the same species of Smilax. There can be but little 

 doubt that Jamaica sarsaparilla is the produce of Smilax officinalis, 

 H. B. K. For fig., see Bentley and Trimen, Med. Plants, tab. 289. 



n. Lean Vera Cruz or Mexican sarsaparilla. 

 Note. This specimen is figured in Per. Mat. Med., vol. ii., pt. i., p. 284, 

 fig, 146. The roots are slender, not folded, shrivelled, almost without 

 rootlets, and the chump remains attached. It usually contains no starch. 

 It is produced by Smilax medica, Schl. et Cham. Pharmacographia, 

 pp. 640, 646. For micr. sect., see Berg, Anat. Atlas, taf. iv., fig. 16, and 

 Bentley and Trimen, Med. Plants, tab. 290. 



o. Guayaquil sarsaparilla. From Hill & Son, April, 1851. 

 Note. This specimen was presented by Mr. D. Hanbury, in Nov., 1874. 

 It consists of rather large roots with the chump attached, and often por- 

 tions of the stem, which are round, not square as in S. officinalis, nor 

 multi-angular as in S. papyracea. When cut transversely, it shows the 

 central ring of an orange tint. It is furnished with rootlets. The 

 thicker portions alone are mealy. See Pharmacographia, p. 646. 



p. Spurious sarsaparilla, from Jamaica. 



Note. This specimen was presented by Mr. Geo. Roberts, in March, 

 1853. It has no distinct pith, and does not resemble sarsaparilla in 

 external appearance. See P. J. [1] , vol. xii., p. 469. 



