LILIAOE^. 



273 



SMILAX, Tourii. Flowers dicecious, small, greenish, axillary ; peri- 

 anth deciduous, segments 0, in two series, outer ones broader, spread- 

 ing, sepaloid ; stamens equal to the number of divisions, shorter than 

 the segments and inserted on their bases. Anthers adnate, 1-celled, 

 with a cross partition. Ovary superior, usually 3-celled ; stigmas 8, 

 spreading, 2 ovules in a cell. Fruit a l)erry, ghjbose, G seeds, sometimes 

 1-celled, with 1 seed only. Leaves entire, petioled, alternate, palmately 

 3-5 veined. Woody perennials. 



1. S. officinalis, H. & Bonpl. (Sarsaparilla.) Stem woody, twining, nearly 

 scjuare, smooth, with scattered spines or prickles ; slender, long, young shoots, 

 witliout prickles. Leaves ovate-oblong, acute, corchite, 5 to 7 ])alniately nerved, 

 thick and leathery, very large, 8 to 12 inches long, and half as wide. Foot-stalks 

 an inch long, smooth, with tendrils. Root with long, creeping rootstocks. 



Stem prickly, nearly square, climbing 

 and 4 to 5 inches wide, oblong-ovate, 



2 S. sarsaparilla, L. (Sarsaparilla.) 

 by tendrils. Leaves 6 to 8 inches l<^ng, 

 deep-green cuspidate, subcordate at 

 base, and 5-nerved. Flowers greenish, 

 on long, fiat, axillary peduncles. Ber- 

 ries large, globose, 1-seeded, pinkish- 

 red when ripe, persistent. Root with 

 long, creeping rhizomes. 



This species has found its way into 

 the southern United States, or is native 

 there. 



3 S. medica, Schlech et Cham. As 

 above, except that the leaves are very 

 smooth, prominently heart-shaped on 

 the lower part of the stem, and ovate 

 above. 



This species furnishes the Mexican 

 root. 



4. S. papyraceae, Poir. Leaves mem- 



brnnacoous, ob]oii<X-oval, blunt, other- Smilax sarsapariuv (Sarsaparilla). 



wise as S. officinalis. 



This species yields the root known as the Para or Rio Xegro Sarsaparilla. 



Geocjraphfi. — The species of smilax producing sarsaparilla are found in 

 Mexico, and in central and northern South America. 



Eti/molor/!/. — Swilnx is from the Greek word (rfxiK-r}, a grater, alluding to 

 tlie armed stems. Officinalis, the specific name, is from the Latin, signifying 

 " of the shops." Sarsapnrilia, the common name, is from the Spanish zarza, 

 a bramble, and pariJJa, a little vine ; hence a prickly vine, or prickly little 

 vine. The specific name medicn is due to the medical i)roperties of this 

 species; and papyracea' indicates the membranous or paper-like character of 

 the loaf. 



flisfon/. — Sarsaparilla was iMtro(hiced into medical practice about the 

 middle of the sixteenth century, and attained a great reputation, which it has 

 not been aide to sustain. 



Use. — "When sarsaparilla first bocami' known to the healing art, it claimed 

 to be specific in all diseases which affected the blood. 

 pR. Fl. — 19 



