2512

ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM.

PART 111.

native of North and South America. Introduced before 1664, and floweringin July and August.

Description, $c. Stems shrubby, long, slender, and climbing. Roots di-vided into several long slender branches, which are somewhat thicker than agoose-quill, straight, brown on their exterior, butwhite internally, and from 3 ft. to 4 ft. long. Leavesalternate and pointed, with long tendrils at the base.

Flowers lateral, usually three or four together on onecommon peduncle. A native of Peru, Brazil, Mexico,and Virginia. It is included in Evelyn’s Kalendar, ashaving been in cultivation before 1664 ; but, accordingto Plukenet, it was first brought to England by Mr.

Foster, in 1691. Caspar Bauhin informs us that theroot was introduced into Spain from Mexico, as amedicine, in 1573; but Monarda asserts that it wasknown there twenty or thirty years previously. Sar-saparilla, on its first introduction, was considered as aspecific against numerous disorders; but it has sincegradually fallen into disuse. It is, however, still occa-sionally employed in rheumatic complaints, scrofula,and all cutaneous diseases, “ where an acrimony of the fluids prevails.” Theplant is at Messrs. Loddiges’s, and in the Botanic Garden, Twickenham;but it does not grow so freely as S. aspera, and is somewhat tender.

i- 5. S. hasta'ta Willd. The spear-shaped Smilax.

Identification. Willd. Sp. PI., A. p. 782. ; Pursh FI. Ainer. Sept., 1. p. 249.; Lodd. Cat., ed. 1836.Hynonynies. 3. Bdna nix Michx. FI. Amer., 2. p. 237., Walt. FI. Car., 245.; S. dspera var. 7.am.Encyc.y 6. p. 4fi5.

Engraving. Pluk. Aim., t. HI. f. 3.

Spec. Char. Stem subarmed. Leaves lanceolate, acuminate;auriculate, or spear-shaped, at the base; ciliated or pricklyon the margin; 3—5 nerves. Berries round. (Willd.')

A native of the sea coast of Carolina and Florida. Intro-duced in 1820.

Variety.

fL S. h. 2 lanceolata Pursh FI. Amer. Sept., i. p. 249.;

S. ianceoliita Walt. FI. Car., 245.; ? S. longifoliaWats. Dend. Brit., t. 110. ; and our fig. 2385.; S.

Watsoni Sweet; has the leaves longer and narrowerthan the species, and not spear-shaped at thebase.

Description, Sfc. A weak climbing shrub, with subangular,green, smooth branches, with horizontal, acute, short spines.

Leaves alternate, glabrous, and of the same colour on bothsides; and with long spiral tendrils. There are plants atMessrs. Loddiges’s.

4- 6. S. Walte'r// Pursh. Walter’s Smilax.

Identification. Pursh FI. Amer. Sept., 1. p. 249.

Synonyme. S. China Walt. FI. Car., p. 245.

Spec. Char., fyc. Stem prickly. Leaves ovate-cordate, smooth, 3-nerved.Berries acuminate. (Pursh.) A native of the low sandy parts of Virginiaand Carolina, on the river sides. It is rather ornamental, from the shapeof its leaves, and its having red berries. It was supposed by Walter to beS. China ; but it differs in its leaves having only 3 nerves, and in some otherparticulars. It is rather tender. There are plants in the HorticulturalSociety’s Garden, against the conservative wall.