64 THE SMILAX FAMILY. 



By the rounded, cordate leaves which are deciduous, the species may be 

 known, and also by its bluish black berries which grow in umbels. 



S. lanceolata, lance-leaved smilax, throws out early in the season In its in- 

 florescence an abundance of bloom which is white and fleecy ; but it is in the 

 winter time that the vine is most conspicuous. Then its round berries have 

 turned to red, and they shine brightly among the lance-shaped and evergreen 

 leaves. From Texas and Florida to Virginia it is a rather frequent inhabi- 

 tant of moist thickets. 



One other species is known which bears red berries, Walter's smilax, S. 

 Walteri, and they are almost coral colour. It grows through our range in 

 the pine barrens, or swamps of the lower district where thickets prevail and 

 while not a very high climber is found running over bushes or even ascending 

 small trees. It may be recognised by the rounded bases of the leaf-blades. 

 S. bona-nox, bristly green brier, or wild sarsaparilla, occurs from Florida 

 to New England, often in the damp ground of river banks. It is well 

 marked by its broadly ovate leaves which are compressed at the middle, and 

 deeply cordate, or incline to form tv.'o rounded lobes at the base. Fiddle- 

 shaped they are sometimes said to be. On both sides they are green and 

 lustrous. From their margins occasionally short, fine spines are pro- 

 jected, while again they are quite smooth. On the branchlels also are a few 

 rigid prickles. The large tuberous rootstocks of this species and those of 

 Smilax Pseudo-China, bamboo brier, are collected in the autumn and made 

 into a drink used as sarsaparilla. 



S. aurictildta, a straggling species which inhabits Florida and places near 

 the coast, has a low stem forming a zig-zag line and is found rambling 

 over many small shrubs. It is but slightly prickly. Tlie stiff leaves are 

 lanceolate, often inclined to form two broad, blunt lobes at their bases and 

 sometimes project from the apfex, the midrib. They are besides 

 coriaceous and evergreen. The flowers are fragrant, while in October 

 many bluish black berries hang from the vine. 



S. piimila, mostly an inhabitant of the dry, oak woods of Florida 

 and South Carolina, has large, long ovate leaves, deeply cordate at 

 their bases. When young their undersides are covered as are the 

 stems and petioles with a dense, brownish grey pubescence. The 

 berries are almost white, or orange-yellow. 



