CHAP. CXV.

smila'ce®. smi'lax.

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of the south of Europe for those of S. Sarsaparilla ; and they possess nearlythe same qualities, but in an inferior degree : they are also larger, and moreporous. In British gardens, it is commonly trained against a wall; but itwill also attach itself to rough stakes, though it seldom flowers when sotreated. It will attain the height of about 6 ft.

k- S. a. 2 mauritanica, S. mauritanica Pair,, was introduced in 1820, andthere are plants in the Horticultural Society’s Garden,

8- 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.

Synonymes. S. orientklis, &c., Tourn. Cor., 45., Bux. Cent., 1.18.; S. Aspera Alp. Mgypt., ed. 2., 140.Engravings. Bux. Cent., 1. t. 27.; Alp. iEgypt., ed. 2., 1 .141.; and out fig. 2382.

Spec. Char., fyc. Stem prickly, angular. Leavesunarmed, cordate, 9-nerved. ( Willd.') A climb-ing shrub, a native of Syria; cultivated before1739, by Miller; and flowering in August andSeptember.

Description, fyc. Stems 4-cornered, and prickly;mounting to the tops of tall trees, by means oftheir clasping tendrils. Leaves 2 in. long, andIf in. broad at the base, having 5 longitudinalnerves, but no spines on their margins. Theflowers and fruit are like those of S. aspera. Theroots resemble and possess the same qualities asthose of S. aspera, but are inferior to those of S.

Sarsaparilla. It is a native of Syria, whence itwas introduced before 1739, and was at firstthought tender; there are, however, plants inMessrs. Loddiges’s arboretum, in the Horticultural Society’s Garden, andother places, which appear quite hardy.

mm

fi- 3. S. rh 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., fyc. Stem angular, prickly. Leavesovate-subcordate, rather obtuse, mucronate, co-riaceous, 5-nerved; margin mucronate-denticu-late near the base. ( Wats.) A handsome climbingshrub, with the leaves edged with short prickles,and brown stipules, with a red spiral tendrilon each side. A native of North America,in woods and by streams. There are plants inthe Botanic Garden, Twickenham, where oneflowered in July, 1821. This is a most orna-mental species, from the contrast between thecolour of its leaves and that of its tendrils ; itis, however, in very few collections.

8- 4. S. Sarsapari'lla L. The medicinal Smilax, or Sarsaparilla.

Identification. Lin. Sp., 1459. ; Willd. Sp. PI., 4. 776.; Ait. Hort. Kew., ed. 2.. 5. p 388.; Mart.Mill., No. 4.; Pursh FI. Amer. Sept, 1. p. 249.; Lodd. Cat, ed. 1836.

Synonymes. S. aspera peruviana Sarsaparilla Bauh. Pin., 296., Rail Hist, 656,: S peruvi&na Sar-saparilla Ger. Emac., 859.; S. aspera peruviana Park. Theat., p. 173 • S. elauca Mirhx 2p. 237., Walt. PI. Car., 245.; the glaucous-leaved Smilax. ’

Derivation. Sarsaparilla is compounded of two Spanish words j viz., zarza, red and parilia alittle vine. * * *

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

Spec. Char., fyc. Stem prickly, angular. Leaves unarmed, ovate-lanceolate,ending in a long sharp point; 5-nerved, glaucous beneath. (Willd.) A

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