5 83 
SILYBUM 
nttm Gaertn. (milk-thistle) in Brit. It is now widely distributed over 
the Pampas, where it was introduced. 
Simaruba Aubl. Simarubaceae. 6 sp. trop. Am. 
Simarubaceae. Dicotyledons (Archichl. Geraniales). -28 gen. with 
124 sp. trop. and subtrop. Shrubs and trees with alt. pinnate or 
simple leaves, never gland-dotted. Firs, small, regular, g > often 00, 
in axillary compound panicles or cymose spikes. Fir. with K and C 
3 — 7-merous. K free or more often united; C imbricate or rarely 
valvate; disc between sta. and ovary ring- or cup-like, sometimes 
enlarged into a gynophore; sta. twice as many as petals, obdiplo- 
stemonous, often with scales at the base; cpls. (4 — 5) or less, often 
free below and united by the style or stigma; ovules usually 1 in 
each loc. as in Rutaceae. Schizocarp or capsule; endosperm thin or 
none ; embryo with thick cotyledons. A few yield useful timber. 
Chief genera: Simaruba, Ailanthus. Placed in Geraniales by Benth.- 
Hooker, in Terebinthinae by Warming. 
Simarubsae (Benth. -Hooker) = Simarubaceae. 
Simethis Kunth. Liliaceae (ill), i sp. Brit., W. and S. Eur., S. 
bicolor Kunth. 
Sinapis Linn. =Brassica Tourn. 
Sinningia Nees. Gesneriaceae (11). 20 sp. Brazil. S. speciosa Hiern 
and others are favourite hot-house plants (generally known as 
Gloxinias). They are tuberous plants. The usual method of pro- 
pagation is by planting leaves on the soil ; from the base of the petiole 
a new plant arises by budding (cf. Begonia and Streptocarpus). 
Siphocampylus Pohl. Campanulaceae (in). 100 sp. trop. Am. 
Siphonia Rich. = Hevea Aubl. 
Sison Linn. Umbelliferae (5). 1 sp. Eur., incl. Brit. 
Sisymbrium (Tourn.) Linn. (incl. Alliaria Adans.). Cruciferae (11. 8). 
50 sp. N. temp. ; 3 in Brit., incl. S . officinale Scop, (hedge- 
mustard). 
Sisyrinchium Linn. Iridaceae (11). 50 sp. Am. 
Sium (Tourn.) Linn. Umbelliferae (5). 6 sp. N. Hemisph., S. Afr. 
2 in Brit, (water-parsnip). S . Sisarum L. (skirret) is sometimes 
cultivated for its tuberous roots, which are boiled and eaten. 
Skimmia Thunb. Rutaceae (ix). 4 sp. Himal., Japan. S. japonica 
Thunb. is often cultivated for its handsome foliage and red berries. 
Sloanea Linn.. Elaeocarpaceae. 44 sp. trop. 
Smilacina Desf. Liliaceae (vn). 20 sp. N. temp. 
Smilax (Tourn.) Linn. Liliaceae (xi). 200 sp. chiefly trop. ; also in 
E. As., N. Am., Medit. Most are climbing shrubs with net- veined 
leaves. At the base of the leaf spring two tendrils, one on either 
side, usually regarded as modified stipules, though these organs 
scarcely occur in Monocotyledons. The stems are often furnished 
with recurved hooks which aid in climbing. Firs, dioecious, in um- 
bels. The dried roots of several S. Am. sp. form sarsaparilla. 
