1094 



ARBORETUM ET FRUTICETUM BRITANNICUM. 



Lin. Sp., 1458. ; Vill. Dauph.,3. p. 272. ; Mart. Mill., No. 1. 

 Synonymes. Kough Bindweed ; Rogo acerbone, Ital. 



Gen. Char. Peiianth 6-parted. Stamens 6. Styles 3. Berry 3-celled ; cells 



2-seeded. (G. Don.) 



Leaves as in the Order. Floiuers corymbose, axillary. Shrubs, climbing 



by means of their tendrils, with stems that are generally prickly. Leaves 



with veiny disks. The tendrils are intrapetiolar stipules. 



In British gardens, they grow in sandy loam, and are readily propagated by 

 division of the root. They are not showy, but they are interesting from their 

 climbing character, as being generally evergreen, and as being some of the few 

 hardy ligneous plants which belong to the grand division of vegetables Mono- 

 cotyiedonese. 



i, Stems prickly and angular. 

 fi- 1. S. A'SPERA L. The rough Smilax. 



Identification. 

 Synonymes. H 

 Engravings. Schk. Han., 3. 328. ; and our fig. 2042. 



Spec. Char., fyc. Stem prickly, angular ; leaves toothed and prickly, cordate, 

 9-nerved. (Willd.) A climbing evergreen. South of Europe, Asia Minor, 

 and Africa. Height 5ft. to 10ft. Introduced in 1618. Flowers whitish; 

 July. Berries red ; ripe in September. 

 Varieties. 



fi- S. a. 2 auriculata Ait. Leaves ear-shaped at the base. 

 fi- S. a. 3 mauritdmca. S. mauritanica Poir. Introduced in 1820, and 

 there are plants in the Horticultural Society's 

 Garden, and in some private collections. 



The roots are thick and fleshy, spreading wide, and 

 striking deep ; and they are sometimes sold by the 

 druggists of the South of Europe for those of S. Sarsa- 

 parilla, as they possess nearly the same qualities, but in 

 an inferior degree ; they are also larger, and more 

 porous. In British gardens, this species, which is per- 

 haps the handsomest of those which are hardy, is com- 

 monly trained against a wall; but it will also attach itself 

 to rough stakes or trelliswork, though it seldom flowers 

 when so treated. 



ft- 2. S. EXCE'LSA L. The tall Smilax. 



Identification. Lin. Sp., 1458. ; Ait. Hort. Kew., ed. 2., 5. 



p. 587. 

 Synonymes. S. orientalis, &c., Tourn. Cor. 45.. Bux. Cent. \. 



18. ; S. aspera Alp. Mgypt. ed. 2. 140. 

 Engravings. Bux. Cent., 1. t. 27. ; Alp. ^gypt., ed. 2., 1. 141. ; 



and our fig. 2043. 



Spec. Char., 8?c. Stem prickly, angular. Leaves 

 unarmed, cordate, 9-nerved. (Willd.) A climb- 

 ing evergreen shrub. Syria. Height 6ft. to 

 12ft. Introduced in 1739. Flowers greenish 

 white ; August and September. Berries red or 

 black ; ripe in November. 



Stems 4-cornered, and prickly; mounting to 

 the tops of tall trees, by means of their clasping 

 tendrils. Leaves 2 in. long, and If in. broad at 

 the base, having 5 longitudinal nerves, but no 

 spines on their margins. The roots resemble and 

 possess the same qualities as those of S. aspera, 

 but are inferior to those of S. Sarsaparilla. 



L 3. S. RU X BENS Wats. The red-tendriled Smilax. 



Identification. Watson Dend. Brit., t. 108. 

 Engravings. Dend. Brit., t. 108. ; and our fig. 2044. 



Spec. Char., fyc. Stem angular, prickly. Leaves ovate-subcordate, rather 



2042. S. aspera. 



2043. S. excsa. 



