The BRITISH HERBAL. 
333 
Ochers, SmUax cfpera. The berries are Ibme- 
times bUck, and the plant is in other pljiccs 
found with fewer prick'es. In thefe conditions 
it has been defcribed as two diftind fpecies ; but 
the difference is only accidental. 
2. The Sarfaparilla Plant. 
Smilax afpe-ra foUis ovalis. 
The root is extremely long and flender : it 
fpreads to a vaft extent, and is brown on the out- 
fide, and white within. 
The ftalks are numerous, weak, and flender : 
they fupport themfcives by tendrils, and run to 
the height oi' twelve feet. 
They are brown, and let with prickles. 
leaves have no prickles ; they have flender 
footllalks i and they are of an oval figure, but 
fharp at the point : they are ot a firm lubifance ; 
and their colour is a deep green on the upper fide, 
and pale underneath. 
The flowers grow in cUilfers at the tops of the 
flalk=i ; and are rniall, and of a yellowini white. 
The berries are as large as a black cherry, and 
when ripe they arc of the fame colour 
It IS a native of South America, and of feme 
parts of the north. It flowers in July. 
C. Bauhine calls it Smilax afpera Peruviana Jive 
Sarfaparilla. Others, Sarfa, Zarza, and Zarza 
mbiliffima. 
Its root is a very celebrated remedy in the 
fcurvy. It has been greatly recommended in the 
cure of the venereal difeafes : but the ready ef.- 
fcfts of mercury have fuperfeded all other medi- 
cines for that purpofe. 
It operates by fweat ; and the befl; method of 
taking it is in a ftrong decoilion. This fliould 
be continued for a confiderable time. 
3. The China Plant. 
Smilax foliis obverfe cordatis ficribus umbellatis. 
The root is large, and of an irregular form. 
The flalk is round, jointed, weak, and ufuaiiy 
crooked from joint to joint, and armed here and 
there with a few prickles : it fupports itfelf among 
bulhes, climbing by means of tendrils, and in 
that manner runs to a great height. 
The leaves are large, and of a figure very much 
approaching to round : they are fmallcfi: at the 
bafe, and are a little dented in the heart-like man- 
ner at the end: 
The flowers are fmall and yellow : they (land 
in a kind of fittle umbells, about four in each. 
The berries are large j and, when npe, .they 
are of an orange red. 
It is a native of China and Japan. It flowers 
in July. 
Plukenet calls it Fruticului convohmlaceus fpi. 
7iofus finicus florihus parvis umbellatis. Others 
Amply, China, 
The root pofl*efres the fame qualities with far fa- 
parilla. They ufed to be given together againft 
the venereal difeafe, and at prefent are prefcribed 
in diet-drinks againfl: fcorbutick complaints. It 
was fuppofed to poffefs virtues that it had not ; 
and thence is grown much into difufe, the com- 
mon pradlice neglecSling thofe it really has. 
There is a root brought from America called 
bajiard China^ which belongs to a plant of this 
kind, but with longer leaves. 
GENUS ir, 
BERRYBEARING ANGELICA. 
yl R A L I J. 
npHE flower is compofed of five petals, of an oval form. The cup is very fmall, and is divided 
by five indentings at the edge. The fniit is a round berry, ftriated, and crowned at the top, 
containing a Tingle oblong, hard feed. The flowers are difpofed in little umbells ; and the leaves are 
divided in the manner ol the common umbelliferous plants. 
Linnaeus places this among the fmtandria fstuagynia ; the threads in the flower being five, and the 
ftyies in its centre the fame number. 
Berrybearing Angelica. 
Aral'ta roxemofa ^ ramofa. 
The root is long, thick, and furnifhed with 
many fibres. 
The ftalk is round, upright, very much 
branched, and five feet high : it is purple toward 
the bottom, and at the joints ; elfewhere of a 
pale green. 
The leaves are very large, and each is com- 
pofed of numerous, fmalier, perfed part?, refem- 
biing fo many diftind leaves : thefe are oblong 
and broad ; largefl: at the bafe, fmalier to the 
point, ferrated at the edges, and of a pale green. 
The flowers Hand in little clufters on foot- 
ftalks rifing from the bofoms of all the leaves from 
the top to the bottom of the plant; they are 
fmall, and of a yellowirti white. 
The berries are green at firft, but when ripe of 
a dufky red. 
It is a native of North America, and fiowers in 
Augufl. 
■ Van Royen calls it Aralia ex tills fiorijera. 
Others, Paiiaces Carpmon, 
33- 
GENUS 
