Nationalisation in Extra-Tropical Gauntries. 459 



Zealand Ripogoimm scandens (Forster), has ever been subjected to 

 accurate thereapeutic tests, and the same may be said of numerous 

 other Smilaces scattered through the warmer countries of the globe. 

 Even the Italian sarsaparilla, which is derived from the Mediter- 

 ranean S. aspera (Linne), has been introduced into medicine. 



Smilax Pseudo-China, Linue. 



South-Eastern States of North-America. This climber likes 

 swampy banks of streams for its habitation. Serves as sarsaparilla 

 locally. The round root is starchy, and when boiled edible ; the 



, young shoots serve as asparagus [Dr. Porcher]. 



Smilax rotundifolia, Linne. 



Eastern States of North- America, extending to Canada. A 

 prickly climber with deciduous foliage. A.n immense local use 

 is made of the roots for the bowls of tobacco-pipes. It is estimated 

 that nearly three millions of these briar-root pipes are now made a 

 year. The reed-portion of these pipes is generally prepared from 

 Alnus serrulata (Willdenow) according to Prof. Meehan. 



Smilax rubig'inosa, Grisebach. 



South-Brazil and La Plata- States. The roots of this and S 

 campestris are there employed as sarsaparilla [Prof. Hieronymus ] 



Smyrnium Olusatrum, Linne. 



The Alisander. Southern Europe, Northern Africa, Western 

 Asia. A biennial herb, which raw or boiled can be utilized in the 

 manner of celery. The roots and fruitlets serve medicinal pur- 

 poses. 



Solanum Aculeastrum, Dunal. 



South- Africa. Recommended for hedges, as one of the tallest 

 species of this genus, and as armed with the most formidable 

 prickles. 



Solanum JEthiopicum, Linne. 



Tropical Africa. Cultivated there and elsewhere on account of 

 its edible berries, which are large, red, globular and uneven. The 

 plant is annual. 



Solanum betaceum, Cavanilles. (Cyphomandra betacea, Sendtner.) 



Central America. This shrub is cultivated as far south as Buenos 

 Ayres and Valparaiso, also on the Mediterranean Sea, for the sake 

 of its tomato-like berries, which are of the size of a duck's egg. 

 Bears about five months each year, and fruits in the second season 

 already. The berries can be eaten raw, when quite ripe, and are of 

 pleasant taste [Morris] ; slit up they serve particularly well in 

 mixed salads. Hardy at Port Phillip. 



