396 • CLASS XXII. ORDER VI. 



HEXANDRIA. 



407. SMILAX. 

 Smilax rotundifolia. L. Green Briar. 



Stem prickly, round ; leaves unarmed, heart shaped, 

 pointed, five or seven nerved. 



A hardy and very troublesome vine, climbing upon trees and 

 bushes, and forming, with its thorny branches, almost impas- 

 sable thickets. Stem smooth, woody, strong, armed with short, 

 straight, rigid thorns, proceeding from the wood. Leaves large, 

 smooth, roundish-heart shaped, ending in a short point, com- 

 monly five nerved. Tendrils very strong, from the top of the 

 stipules. Umbels of flowers small, on short, axillary stalks. 

 Berries small. — Moist woods. — June. 



Smilax peduncularis. Muhl. Long stalked Smilax. 



Stem round, unarmed : leaves roundish-ovate, acu- 

 minate, nine nerved, peduncle of the fertile umbel 

 longer than the leaves. 



A rank, herbaceous, climbing plant. Stem round, smooth, at- 

 taching itself to other plants by its stipular tendrils. Leaves 

 of the stem large, heart shaped, with a short point, petioled, 

 smooth, with about nine nerves. Flowers small, greenish, with 

 an offensive odor, in simple umbels, on very long, axillary 

 peduncles. The fertile ones are succeeded by large bunches 

 of rounded, compressed, crowded, bluish berries. The axils of 

 many of the leaves give rise to short, barren branches, support- 

 ing half a dozen ovate, live nerved leafets. — June. — Perennial. 



408. DIOSCOREA. 

 Dioscorra villosa. Villous Dioscorea. 



Leaves alternate, opposite and whorled, cordate, 

 acuminate, pubescent underneath, nine nerved, the 

 lateral nerves simple. 

 Syn. Dioscorea paniculata. Mr. 

 A delicate, slender-twining vine. Stem twisted and winding 



