S is o n A m om um , Linné.
Middle and Southern Europe. An herb of one or two year’s^
duration. I t grows best on soil rich in lime. The seeds can be used
for condiment.
S m i la x b o n a n o x , Linné.
Southern States of North-Amerioa and Mexico. The young shoots
of this, of S. laurifolia (L.) and some others are edible.
S m i la x C h in a , Linné.
Jap an and China. Stems of medicinal value ; in its native
country the yonng shoots used for food.
S m i la x g la u c a , Walter.
Sonthern States of North-America, extending into Mexico. One
of the Sarsaparilla-plants, regarded by Dr. Porcher of undoubted
medicinal efficacy, both sudorific and alterative, containing much
smilacin ; it likes rich soil.
S m i la x m e d ic a , Chamisso and Schlechtendal.
Mexico. This plant produces mainly the Sarsaparilla-root of th a t
country. I t is one of the richest in smilacin.
S m i la x o fflc in a lis , Humboldt.
New Granada and other parts of Central America. This climbing
shrnb produces a t least a portion of the Columbian sarsaparilla. S.
syphilitica (Willdenow) yields some Brazilian sarsaparilla, S. febrífuga
(Kunth) the Purhampui-sarsaparilla of Peru.
S m i la x p a p y r a c e a , Duhamel.
Guiana to Brazil. The origin of the principal supply of Brazilian
sarsaparilla is ascribed to this species, although several others of
this genus, largely represented in Brazil, may yield the medioinal
root also, thus S. lirasiliensis (Sprengel). In warm humid gullies of
the temperate zone -these plants would probably succeed in establishing
themselves. Smilax Australis (B. Brown) extends from
the tropical coast-parts of Australia to East-Gippsland. Neither
this, nor the East-Anstralian S. glycyphylla (Smith), nor the New
Zealand Kipogonum scandens (Forster), has ever been subjected to
accurate therapeutic tests, and the same may be said of numerous
other Smilaoes scattered through the warmer countries of the globe.
Even the Italian sarsaparilla, which is derived from the Mediterranean
S. aspera (Linné), has been introduced into medicine.
S m i la x P s e u d o -C h in a , Linné.
South-Eastern States of North-America. This climber likes
swampy banks of streams for its habitation. Serves as sarsaparilla
locally. The round root is starchy, and when boiled edible ; the
young shoots serve as asparagus [Dr. Porcher].
S m i la x r o tu n d if o l i a , Linné.
Eastern States of North-America, extending to Canada. A
prickly climber with deciduous foliage. An immense local use is
made of tlie roots for the bowls of tobacco-pipes. I t is estimated th a t
. nearly three millions of these hriar-root pipes are now made a year.
The reed-portion of these pipes is generally prepared from Alnus
serrulata (Willdenow) according to Prof. Meehan.
S m i l a x r u b ig in o s a , Grisebach.
South-Brazil and La Plata-States. ^ The roots of this and S. cam-
pestris are there employed as sarsaparilla [Prof. Hieronymus].
S m y r n i u m O l u s a t r u m , Linné.
The Alisander. Southern Europe, Northern Africa, Western
Asia. A biennial herb, which raw or boiled can be utilised m
the manner of celery. The roots and fruitlets serve medicinal piir-
S o l a n u m A c u l e a s t r u m , Dunal.
South-Africa. Recommended for hedges, as one of the tallest
species of this genus, and as armed with the most formidable
prickles.
S o l a n u m Æ t h io p i c u m , Linné.
Tropical Africa. Cultivated there and elsewhere on account of its
edible berries, which are large, red, globular and uneven. The plant
is annual.
S o l a n u m b e ta o e u m , Cavanilles. (Cyphomandra betacea, Sendtner.)
Central America. This shrub is -cultivated as far south as Buenos
Ayres and Valparaiso, also on the Mediterranean Sea, for the sake o f
’ its tomato-like berries, which are of the size of a duck s egg. Bears
about five months each year, and fruits in the second season already.
The berries can he eaten raw, when quite ripe, and are of pleasant
taste [Morris] ; slit up they serve particularly well m mixed salads.
Hardy a t P o rt Phillip.
S o l a n u m c a r d io p b y llu m , Lindley.
Central Mexico. A Potato-Solanum, with naturally large tubers.