, SMILACEjE — TKILLIACE^. 617 



Order 199. — Smilace^, the Sarsaparilla Family. (Mono-Perigyn. ) 

 Flowers bisexual or polygamous. Perianth petaloid, 6-parted. 

 Stamens 6, inserted into the base of the perianth, rarely hypogynous. 

 Ovary free, 3-celled ; cells uni- or multi-ovulate ; ovules orthotropal ; 

 styles usually 3-cleffc; stigmas 3. Fruit globular and succulent. 

 Seeds with fleshy, cartilaginous albumen ; embryo very small ; usually 

 distant from the hilum. — Herbs or undershrubs, often climbing, with 

 netted-veined leaves. Natives of the temperate and tropical regions 

 of Asia and America. There are 6 known genera and upwards of 

 120 species. Examples — Smilax, Philesia. 



Mucilaginous and demulcent properties prevail throughout the 

 order. The root of various species of Smilax constitutes the Sarsa- 

 parilla or Sarza of the pharmacopoeias. Lihnseus considered Smilax 

 Sarsaparilla, a native of the United States, as the plant which fur- 

 nished Sarsaparilla, but recent observers state that this is not the 

 case. The following are enumerated as sources whence Sarsaparilla 

 of various kinds is derived : — 



1. Smilax officinalis, found in woods near the Rio Magdalena in Columbia. It 



furnishes Jamaica Sarza, which is the hest in the market. 



2. Smilax medica, native of the Mexican Andes. It is thought to furnish Vera 



Cruz Sarza. 



3. SmUax syphilitica, found in Brazilian Guiana. It in part supplies Brazil and 



Lisbon Sarza. 



4. Smilax oordato-ovata, a Brazilian species. Brazil Sarza in part. 



5. Smilax papyracea, a Brazilian species. Probably the source of the Para 



6. Smilax Brasiliensis, a Brazilian species. Brazil Sarza. 



The oflScinal part is the roots which come off from the rhizomes. The 

 roots are mucilaginous, bitterish, and slightly acrid. They contain 

 mucUage, starch, oil, resin, and a crystalline principle called Pariglin 

 or Smilacin. Sarsaparilla is used in decoction and infusion, as a tonic 

 and alterative/i in cachectic and syphilitic cases. Smilax China, a 

 native of China, Japan, and India, yields the Tuber Chinee or China- 

 root. The tubers are used as a remedy in syphilis. The root of S. 

 Pseudo-Ghina, from the United States, is also used. The genus 

 Astelia is by some included in this order, while by others it is put in 

 a separate order,— AsTELiEiE. The plants have grass-like leaves, and 

 in habit they resemble Tillandsias. They are found in New Zealand, 

 Tasmania, and South America. They yield fibres. Astelia Solandri 

 is the Tree-flax of New Zealand, A. Banksii, A. Ounninghamii, and 

 A. trinerois, also yield fibres. 



Order 200. — Trilliace^, the Trillium Family. (Mono-Perigyn.) 

 Flowers usually bisexual. Perianth in 6, sometimes 8 divisions, 

 coloured or herbaceous. Stamens 6, 8, or 10; filaments subulate;, 

 anthers linear, with a prolonged connective. Ovary free, 3- 4- or 5- 

 celled ; styles as many, distinct ; ovules 00, anatropal. Fruit succu- 



