XXXIX. SMILACE^. 8S7 



TRIBE I. CONVALLAEIE^]. 



Flowers axillary $ or polygamous. Styles united ; ovules semi-anatropous. 

 Leaves radical, or cauline and alternate. 



PRINCIPAL GENERA. 



Drymophila. Clintonia. Ruscus. *Streptopua. 



Majanthemum. Callixene. * Polygonatum. Smilax. 



Philesia. * Convallavia. Luzuriaga. Lapageria. 

 * Stuilacina. Ripogonum. 



TRIBE II. 

 Mowers terminal $ . Styles distinct ; ovules anatropous. Leaves whorled. 



PRINCIPAL GENERA. 

 Paris. * Trillium. Medeola. 



Smilacea approach Melmithacccc in habit, if we compare Streptopus and Uvularia, &c., the fruit of 

 which is fleshy when young, as is that of Asphodek<$. They are closely allied to the berried Asparayea, 

 and are only distinguished by their membranous testa, cartilaginous albumen, and the habit of some 

 genera, which recalls that of Dicotyledons. These differences, although slight, nevertbeless led R. Brown 

 to restrict Smilacets by separating them from the true Asparageee, which he joined to Liliacefe. 



Lapageria and its two allied genera (CallLvcne and Philesia) approach Smilax in their vegetation, 

 organs, fruits, and depurative properties (whence their roots are employed as a substitute for Sarsapaiilla), 

 and bear flowers which but for size and colour resemble in plan of structure those of Asparagus. 

 According to Planchon, they form an intermediate link connecting the genera on the confines of the 

 group of Smilacece with Liliacece properly so called. 



Smilacctz mostly grow in tropical and extra-tropical regions of the New World, from Canada to the 

 Straits of Magellan. Half of the species occur north of the tropic of Cancer, a quarter inhabit the 

 same latitudes of Europe and Asia, the other quarter are dispersed over tropical Asia and Australasia ; 

 South Africa appears to contain none. The genera Polygonatum, Cotivallaria, Smilacina, Mqjtrnt/iemuin, 

 Streptopus, belong to the temperate and cold regions of the northern hemisphere ; Ruscus to the south of 

 Europe and the Canaries ; Medeola to North America ; Trillium inhabits cool and shady places in 

 America and North Asia. Paris grows in Central Europe and Asia; Smilax is spread over the temperate 

 and tropical regions of both hemispheres. 



Smilacete, divided into two tribes by their botanical characters, are so also by their properties. 

 Paris quadrifolia and its congeners are regarded as poisonous, narcotic and acrid ; its leaves, root and 

 berries were formerly employed medicinally. The root of Medeola viryinica (Indian Cucumber-root), is 

 used by Anglo-American doctors as a diuretic and emetic. 



The root of our Polyycnatum, called Solomon's Seal, from the circular marks left on the rhizome by 

 the flowering stems, is inodorous, sugary, mucilaginous, astringent, and was formerly considered a vulne- 

 rary. From its abundant starch, it has been mixed in bread in some parts of North Europe; its shoots 

 are edible, like Asparagus, but its berries are nauseous, emetic and purgative. The berries of Smilacina 

 racemosa are considered as a tonic for the nerves, as are those of the Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis), 

 well known for its odorous flowers ; its root is a sternutatory, and yields a drastic extract. The leaves of 

 Streptopus ample.rifolius are used in popular medicine for astringent gargles ; the young root is eaten as a 

 salad. The mucilaginous, slightly acrid and bitter roots of fiiiscus share the qualities of Asparagus, and 

 were formerly valued as an aperient, diuretic and eminenagogue. Their seeds, when roasted, have an 

 agreeable aroma, whence, like those of Asparaym, they have been used as a substitute for cottee. The 

 roots of Sarsnparilla, so valuable in the treatment of syphilis, belong to different species of 

 (S. Sarsaparilln, offidnalis, papyracea, syphtiitica), natives of tropical America. The South 



