SMILAX. 



1273. S. officinalis HBK. n. g. et sp. pi. i. 271. Banks of 

 the Magdalena, near Bojorque. 



Stem twining, angular, prickly, smooth ; the young shoots unarmed. 

 Leaves ovate-oblong, acute, cordate, netted, 5-7-nerved, coriaceous, 

 smooth, a foot long, and 4-5 inches broad ; the young ones lanceolate 

 oblong, acuminate, 3-nerved; petioles an inch long, smooth, bearing 

 tendrils above the base. Flowers unknown. 



This is called Sarzaparilla by the natives of the banks of the Magda- 

 lena who, according to Humboldt and Bonpland, send great quantities 

 to Carthagena and Mompox ; whence it is shipped for Jamaica and 

 Cadiz. Mr. Pereira suspects that this is what produces Jamaica Sarsa- 

 parilla, the best and most valuable kind in the market. 



1274. S. glauca Martins travels Eng. edit. ii. 96. Brazil. 

 Stem flexuose, twisted, angular, prickly, glaucous. Leaves broad 



ovate, rounded at each end, 3-5-nerved, spiny-toothed, glaucous ; the 

 midrib prickly. Umbels axillary, on short stalks. According to Mar- 

 tius the woody knotty root of this plant is called in Brazil Raiz da 

 China branca e rubra, also Japicdnga, or Inhapecdnga. The Brazilians 

 consider it a specific against syphilis; but besides this it is much 

 recommended for gout and chronic cutaneous eruptions. In using 

 this remedy, it is taken for granted that the patient will submit to drink 

 an enormous quantity. 



1275. S. China Linn. sp. pi 1479. Willd. sp. pi iv. 778. 

 Sankira vulgo Quaquara Kcempf. amcen. 781. t. 783. Wild 

 places in China, among fern and brambles. 



Rhizoma hard, large, knotty, uneven, brown or blackish externally, 

 whitish within. Stem tapering, slightly prickly, growing 2 or 3 feet 

 high without support, but acquiring a greater length if scrambling among 

 bushes. Leaves thin, membranous, roundish, 5-nerved, acute at each 

 end, or obtuse at each end, and mucronate at the point; stipules dis- 

 tinct, obtuse. Umbels small, 10-flowered, greenish yellow. Fruit red, 

 size of a Bird Cherry. The rhizoma of this forms one of the China 

 roots of the shops ; it is recommended as a substitute for Sarsaparilla. 

 The Chinese eat it under the idea that it invigorates them. 



1276. S. glabra Roxb. fl. ind. iii. 792. Sylhet and the adja- 

 cent Garrow country. 



Climbing from a large tuberous rhizoma. Stem and branches un- 

 armed, polished. Leaves lanceolate, acuminate, rounded at the base, 

 polished, 3-nerved, glaucous underneath. Umbels axillary, simple, 

 sessile, solitary. Divisions of the perianth broad, obcordate. Rox- 

 burgh says that the rhizoma is not to be distinguished by the eye from 

 the medicinal drug brought from China, under the name of China Root. 

 The natives of Sylhet use a decoction of the fresh root annually for the 

 cure of sores, and venereal complaints. 



1277. S. lanceaefolia Roxb. fl. ind. iii. 792. Eastern fron- 

 tier of Bengal. 



Climbing from large tuberous rhizomata. Stem and branches un- 

 armed, polished. Leaves lanceolate, 3-nerved, polished. Umbels 

 simple, axillary, solitary, stalked. Divisions of the perianth linear, 

 oblong. Roxburgh informs us that the large tuberous rhizomata are 

 much used by the natives of India, and are not to be distinguished from 

 599 Q Q 4 



