854 XXXIX. SMILACE^. 



obscuie, as much from the spurious drugs which usurped its name, as from the error of botanists. Lin- 

 nfeus attributed it to the Iris tubei'osa, but the researches of modern pharmacists, and especially Guibourt 

 and Planchon, have shown that Hermodaete is the produce of Colchicum vanei/ahim, a native of the 

 Mediterranean region. 



In North America the root of Helonias dioica is used as a vermifuge ; steeped in wine it is a bitter 

 tonic : a decoction of the root of H. huUata is administered there for obstructions of the abdominal 

 viscera. The seeds of Amianthiuin musccetoxicum are narcotic, and used to destroy flies. The bulb of 

 Ledebouria hyacinthioides replaces in India that of Suilla. Uvularia is distinguished from the other 

 Melanthaeees by its medicinal properties as well as by its botanical charactei'S, which place it near 

 Streptopus, belonging to Asparagece. The roots of XJ. latifolia and Jliwa are, in fact, mucilaginous and 

 slightly astringent; the Anglo-American doctors prescribe it in an infusion for gargling. A decoction of 

 the leaves and root of U. grmidiflora is considered by the natives of North America a cure for the bite 

 of the rattle-snahe. 



XXXIX. SMIL ACE ^. 



(AsPAEAGOEUM genera, Jussieu. — Smilace^, Br. — Liliaceaeum pars, Smilace^ et 



Philesiace^, Lindl.) 



FloWees usually 5 . Peeianth inferior, petaloid, mostly 6-merous, 2-seriate, 

 isostemonous. Stamens hypogynous or perigynous. Ovaet superior, S-celled, rarely 

 ] -2-4-ceZZefZ ; ovtiles more or less numerous, anatropous or semi-anatropous or ortho- 

 tropous. Beery few-seeded. Seeds globose ; testa membranous ; albumen very 

 dense. Embryo small, included. — Herbs or sarmentose undersheubs, sometimes 

 with tendrils or thorns. Leaves all radical, or cauline alternate or whorled. 



Perennials, -with a usually creeping rhizome, or herbaceous or sarmentose 

 UNDERSHRUBS ; branches unarmed or thorny. Leaves all radical, or the cauline 

 alternate or whorled, sessile, sheathing or petioled, sometimes with stipular tendrils 

 [Smilaxj ; nerves parallel or 3-5-7-palmate and anastomosing {8milax) ; sometimes 

 scale-like, and then accompanied by branches dilated into a phyllode (or cladode) 

 [Ruscus). Flowers regular, § , or diclinous by arrest, terminal or axillary, solitary 

 [Paris, Trillium), or sub-solitary (Streptopus) ; sometimes racemose {Convallaria, 

 Polygonatum, Smilacina, &c.), or umbellate {Smilax, Medeola); pedicels often jointed 

 and bracteolate. Perianth petaloid, with 6 leaflets, rarely 4 [Majanthemum), or 

 5-00 [Paris), 2-seriate, all alike, or the inner narrowest or largest [Paris, Trillium) ; 

 distinct, or forming a tubular or campanulate perianth [Polygonatum, Convallaria); 

 Bestivation imbricate. Stamens equal in number with the perianth leaflets [or 00 in 

 Paris'] , inserted on them or on the receptacle ; filaments free, rarely more or less 

 monadelphous [Ruscus, Paris, &c.); anthers introrse, 2-celled, connective apiculate 

 [Trillium, Paris). Ovary free, sessile, usually 3-celled, sometimes 1-celled with 3-5 

 parietal placentas [Lapageria, Paris, &e.), or 2-celled [Majanthemum); cells many- 

 ovuled [Paris, Trillium, Medeola, Drymophila, Streptop^is) ; or 1-2-ovuled [Conval- 

 laria, Polygonatum, Smilacina, Smilax, Ruscus, &c.) ; styles as many as the carpels, 

 distinct or coherent ; stigmas distinct, simple ; ovules inserted at the inner angle of 

 the cells, anatropous or semi-anatropous or orthotropous. Beery 1-2-3-4-celled, 

 l_few-seeded. Seeds sub-globose ; testa membranous, thin ; albumen cartilaginous 

 or sub-horny. Embryo small, included, often remote from the hilum. 



