SMILAX, 



307 



8. elegans. — Although this plant has been figured in 

 the Botanical Magazine under the name here adopted, it 

 is also known as Ptycliosperma Gwnninghamii, and many 

 botanists who are practically acquainted with this order, 

 declare it not to be the S. elegans of Rbt. Brown, and 

 that it should never have been so called. This plant, in 

 its native habitat, rises upon a somewhat stout straight 

 stem to the height of about thirty feet, but in this country 

 it requires many years to reach half that altitude. The 

 leaves are from two to ten feet in length ; petioles broadly 

 sheathing at the base ; pinn^ lanceolate, narrow, un- 

 equally bifid at the apex, from twelve to eighteen inches 

 in length, dark green ; the whole plant perfectly smooth. 

 It makes a fine efiect in the sub-tropical garden, is one 

 of the finest greenhouse or conservatory decorators, and 

 is also- well suited for a window plant. As above noted, 

 it is more correctly called PtycJwsperma Ounningliamii. 

 Native of the northen parts of Australia. 



Smilax. 



This genus of undershrubs is of scandent habit. Many 

 of the species have very ornamental foliage, and are well 

 adapted for pillar climbers, or training upon balloon-shaped 

 trellises. From various species of this genus the Sarsa- 

 parilla of commerce is obtained. The most esteemed kind 

 or quality of this drug is supposed to be yielded by Smilax 

 officinalis. They succeed well potted iu a mixture of rough 

 j)eat and loam, with a little river sand ; drain the pots 

 well, and supply liberally with water. These plants may 

 be increased by cuttings, or by divisions of the roots, as 

 they frequently produce suckers. 



8. longifoUa variegata. — This species is one of our recent 

 introductions. It is a rough-stemmed climber, with oblong- 

 x2 



