68 
rootlets have been are clearly discernible, proving that the roots when 
gathered had as much beard as the sort usually received as Jamaica 
sarsaparilla, and making it probable that if the merchant buying up 
this Zarza in various parts of Brazil, would but inform the collectors 
that by preserving the beard they would not only save themselves 
much unnecessary trouble, but increase the weight and the commer- 
cial value of the roots they dig up, we should soon get all our “Jamaica” 
sarsaparilla from Brazil, and in a few years have difficulty in obtaining 
even a specimen of what is now termed “ Lisbon sarsaparilla.” 
But the chief distinction which pharmacologists make between the 
various commercial sorts of sarsaparilla is that of “‘ mealy”” and “ non- 
mealy.” Mealy (sarsaparille farinose seu amylacee) are called those 
sorts in which there is, just below the outer cortical layer, a mealy 
coat, of greater or less thickness ; and non-mealy (sarsaparillz non-fari- 
nose seu non-amylaceex), those which ‘are either wholly destitute of 
any meal, or have a very thin mealy coat. This distinction, it must 
be confessed, is not a nice one, and would not be admitted by a logi- 
cal thinker ; but the very fact that it is adopted by a great body of 
pharmacologists is sufficient to invite criticism. It might be advanced 
as an @ priori argument, that roots of two individual plants, though 
they may be mealy in the one and non-mealy in the other, need there- 
fore not necessarily belong to two distinct species; and that he who has 
the misfortune to eat the waxy potatoes of Kamtschatka, is not justi- 
fied in considering them different in species from the mealy ones he 
may have the privilege of tasting at the table of an English gentle- 
man; but I will dispense with that argument, and merely confine 
myself to stating, that the presence or absence of meal in sarsaparillas 
depends, it would seem, upon age, and the locality in which the roots 
are collected,—that the formation of starch is probably entirely regu- 
lated by physical circumstances. Anybody opening a bundle of 
Jamaica sarsaparilla, may pick out as many roots as he chooses being 
mealy at one end and non-mealy at another. We have here the clearest 
evidence that one and the same root assumes different characters of 
internal structure, and, as a matter of course, external appearance. 
This fact ought to convince any unprejudiced mind that the distine- 
tion alluded to is not tenable; but, to furnish still another proof, I will 
allude to Bentley’s specimens of Guatemala sarsaparilla.* The roots 
of those specimens are generally as mealy as any that are known; yet 
* This sort, after having been dyed, is sold by Mr. Keating, No. 79, St. Paul’s 
Church-yard, London, under the name of “red Paraguan sarsaparilla ;” and was 
exhibited in the Great Exhibition, Sub-class II. No. 102. 
