CHAP. CXV. 



5MILA CE.E. SMVLAX. 



l 25ll 



of the south of Europe for those of S. Sarsaparilla ; and they possess nearly 

 the same qualities, but in an inferior degree : they are also larger, and more 

 porous. In British gardens, it is commonly trained against a wall ; but it 

 will also attach itself to rough stakes, though it seldom flowers when so 

 treated. It will attain the height of about 6 ft. 



*- S. a. 2 mauritanica, S. mauritanica Poir., was introduced in 1820, and 

 there are plants in the Horticultural Society's Garden, 



fl- 2. S. exce'lsa L. The tall Smilax. 



Identification. Lin. Sp., 1458.; Willd. Sp. PI., 4. p. 774. ; Mart. Mill., No. 2. ; Ait. Hort. Kew. 



ed. 2., 5. p. 387. ; Lodd. Cat., ed. 1836. 

 Synonymcs. S. orientalis, &c, Tourn. Cor., 45., Bux. Cent., 1.18. ; S. aspera Alp. /Egypt., ed. 2., 1-10. 

 Engravings. Bux. Cent, 1. t. 27. ; Alp. iEgypt., ed. 2., t. 141. ; and our fig. 2382. 



Spec. Char., $c. Stem prickly, angular. Leaves 

 unarmed, cordate, 9-nerved. ( Willd.) A climb- 

 ing shrub, a native of Syria ; cultivated before 

 1739, by Miller; and flowering in August and 

 September. 



Description, <$~c. Stems 4-cornered, and prickly; 

 mounting to the tops of tall trees, by means of 

 their clasping tendrils. Leaves 2 in. long, and 

 If in. broad at the base, having 5 longitudinal 

 nerves, but no spines on their margins. The 

 flowers and fruit are like those of S. aspera. The 

 roots resemble and possess the same qualities as 

 those of S. aspera, but are inferior to those of S. 

 Sarsaparilla. It is a native of Syria, whence it 

 was introduced before 1739, and was at first 

 thought tender ; there are, however, plants in 

 Messrs. Loddiges's arboretum, in the Horticultural Society's Garden, and 

 other places, which appear quite hardy. 



fl- 3. S. ru v bens Wats. The red-tendriled Smilax. 



Identification. Watson Dend. Brit., t. 108. ; Loud. Hort. Brit. 

 Engravings. Dend. Brit., t. 108. ; and our fig. 2383. 



Spec. Char., Sec Stem angular, prickly. Leaves 

 ovate-subcordate, rather obtuse, mucronate, co- 

 riaceous, 5-nerved; margin mucronate-denticu- 

 late near the base. ( Wats.) A handsome climbing 

 shrub, with the leaves edged with short prickles, 

 and brown stipules, with a red spiral tendril 

 on each side. A native of North America, 

 in woods and by streams. There are plants in 

 the Botanic Garden, Twickenham, where one 

 flowered in July, 1821. This is a most orna- 

 mental species, from the contrast between the 

 colour of its leaves and that of its tendrils ; it 

 is, however, in very few collections. 



L 4. S. Sarsaparilla L. The medicinal Smilax, or Sarsaparilla. 



Identification. Lin. Sp., 1459. ; Willd. Sp. PI., 4. 776. ; Ait. Hort. Kew., ed. 2.. 5 n 388. • Mart 



Mill., No. 4.; Pursh Fl. Amer. Sept., 1. p. 249. ; Lodd. Cat, ed. 1836. , ■ y. o , «i«™. 



Synomjmes. S. aspera peruviana Sarsaparilla Bauh. Pin., 296., Raii Hist., 656. ; S. peruviana Sar 



saparilla Ger. Emac, 859. ; S. aspera peruviana Park. Theat., p. 173. ; S. glauca Michx., 2. 



p. 237., Walt. Fl. Car., 245. ; the glaucous-leaved Smilax. 

 Derivation. Sarsaparilla is compounded of two Spanish words ; viz., zarza, red and narilla a 



little vine. ' H ' 



Engravings. Park. Theat., t 174. f. 3. , Dend. Brit, t. 111. j and our fig. 2384. 



Spec. Char., $c. Stem prickly, angular. Leaves unarmed, ovate-lanceolate, 

 ending in a long sharp point; 5-nerved, glaucous beneath. (Willd.) A 



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