CHAP. CXV.

SMILa'cEAS. .V.Mi'lax.

2513

§ ii. Stem prickly, round.

4- 7. S. Chi'na L. The Chinese Smilax.

Identification. Lin. Sp. PI., 1459.; Willd. Sp. PL, 4. p. 778. ; Gron. Orient, 317.; Brown Jam., 359.;Thunb. Jap., 152.; Lour. Coch., 622.; Mart. Mill., No. 6.; Ait. Hort. Kew., ed. 2., 5. p. 383.j Synonymes. China radix Sauk. Pin., 896., Park. Theat., 1578., Raii Hist., (i57.; C vulgaris offi-cinarum Ger. Emac ., 1618. : Smilax aspera minor Plum. Ic., 183.; Sankira, vulgo Quaquara , &c.,

• Kcempfer Amoen. Ex., p. 781.

* Engravings. Gmel. It., 3. t 6. ; Blackw., t. 433. j Kasmpf. Amcen., t. 782. : Pluk. Amah,

i t. 408. f. 1.

Spec. Char., Sfc. Stem round, with a few spines; leaves roundish-ovate, with! acute points, 5-nerved. ( Willd .) This is a climbing shrub, rising, in its

I native country, to the height of 20 ft., with thick leaves, long tendrils, and

red berries. The root is very large, fleshy, and reddish : it is used for food, insome parts of China, instead of rice; and is considered extremely nourish-ing. It is a native of China and Japan, and also of Jamaica; and of Car-thagena, in New Spain, whence Miller received it before 1759. Brownfound it in abundance in Jamaica, where the roots are used to feed hogs.When first brought to England, it was cultivated in the stove : it was after-wards transferred to the green-house ; and, in 1831, was planted out againsta wall in the Horticultural Society’s Garden, where it has remained unin-jured ever since.

4- 8. S. rotundifo'cia L. The round-leaved Smilax.

Identification. Lin. Sp., 1460.; Willd. Sp. PL, 4. p. 779-; Mart. Mill., 7.; Ait. Hort. Kew., ed. 2.,5. p. 388.; Pursh FI. Amer. Sept., 2. p. 250 ., Lodd. Cat., ed. 1836.

Spec. Char., Sfc. Stem round, somewhat prickly. Leaves roundish-ovate,or cordate, very smooth, 5-nerved. Berries spherical. {Willd.) A climb-ing shrub, ascending to the height of about 6 ft., with flexuose stems, anda very few straight prickles. Leaves naked, 5-nerved, wider than long,acute, on short petioles, with 2 filiform tendrils. A native of North Ame-rica, where, according to Pursh, it is common in hedgerows from Canadato Carolina, It was found in Canada by Kalm, and sent by him to Eng-! land, where it was first cultivated by Archibald Duke of Argyll, in 1760.

| There are plants at Messrs. Loddiges’s.

1 8. 9. S. Xaurifo'ha L. The Laurel-leaved Smilax.

Identification. Lin. Sp. PL, 1460.; Willd. Sp. PL, 4., p. 779. j Mart. Mill., No. 8.: Ait. Hort. Kew,,ed. 2., 5. p. 388.; Pursh FL Amer. Sept., 1. p. 250.; Lodd. Cat., ed. 1836.

Synonymes. S. 41tera, &c., Plum. Ic. j S. lte'vis, &c., Catcsb. Car., 1. t. 15.

Engravings. Cat. Car., 1. 1.15. j Plum. Ic.

Spec.Char.,Sfc. Stems round; main stem prickly. Branches unarmed. Leavescoriaceous,'elliptic, 3-nerved. Umbels on very short peduncles. {Willd.)A very handsome climbing shrub, rising 10 ft. or 12 ft. high, with smoothcoriaceous leaves (which, Linnaeus says, are thicker than those of any ofthe other species of .Smilax), and black berries. It is a native of NorthAmerica, in sandy boggy woods, from New Jersey to Georgia, and was incultivation in England, by Miller, before 1739. There are plants at Messrs.Loddiges’s.

4- 10. S. tamnoi'des L. The black Bryony-like Smilax.

j Identification. Lin. Sp. PL, 1460.; Willd. Sp. PL, 4. p. 780. j Mart. Mill., 9. ; Pursh FI. Amer.

: Sept., 1. p. 251.; Lodd. Cat., ed. 1836.

i Synonyme. S. 2?ry6ni® nigra?, &c., Catesb. C 1. t. 52.

■ Engraving. Cat. Car.,1. t. 53.

Spec. Char., §c. Stem round and prickly. Leaves unarmed, cordate-oblong,7-nerved. {Willd.) A climbing evergreen shrub, rather suffruteseent thanwoody ; with taper stems, and leaves 4 in. long, and 2 a ; n- broad at theirbase, having 7 longitudinal veins. The flowers come out in long loosebunches from the sides of the stalks, and the berries are black. {Mill.) Anative of North America, in sandy wet woods and bogs in Virginia andCarolina. It was cultivated by Miller before 1739, and flowers in June

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