Flora Medica

1273. S. officinalis HBK. n. g. et sp. pi.i. 271. Banks ofthe Magdalena, near Bojorque.Stem twining, angular, prickly, smooth the ; young shoots unarmed.Leaves ovate-oblong, acute, cordate, netted, 5-7-nerved, coriaceous,smooth, a foot long, and 45 inches broad; the young ones lanceolateoblong, acuminate, 3-nerved ; petioles an inch long, smooth, bearingtendrils above the base. Flowers unknown.This is called Sarzaparilla by the natives of the banks of the Magdalenawho, according to Humboldt and Bonpland, send great quantitiesto Carthagena and Mompox whence ; it is shipped for Jamaica andCadiz. Mr. Pereira suspects that this is what produces Jamaica Sarsaparilla,the best and most valuable kind in the market.1274. S. glauca Martins travels Eng.edit. ii. 96. Brazil.Stem flexuose, twisted, angular, prickly, glaucous. Leaves broadovate, rounded at each end, 3-5-nerved, spiny-toothed, glaucous ;themidrib prickly. Umbels axillary, on short stalks. According to Martiusthe woody knotty root of this is plant calledChina branca e rubra, also Japicdnga, or Inhapecanga.Brazil Raiz daThe Braziliansinconsider it a specific against syphilis ;but besides this it is muchrecommended for gout and chronic cutaneous eruptions. In usingthis remedy, it is taken for granted that the patient will submit to drinkan enormous quantity.1275. S. China Linn, sp.pl. 14-79. Willd. sp. pi. iv. 778.Sankira vulgo Quaquara Kcempf. amcen. 781. t. 783. Wildplaces in China, among fern and brambles.Rhizoma hard, large, knotty, uneven, brown or blackish externally,whitish within. Stem tapering, slightly prickly, growing 2 or 3 feethigh without support, but acquiring a greater length if scrambling amongbushes. Leaves thin, membranous, roundish, 5-nerved, acute at eachend, or obtuse at each end, and mucronate at the point ; stipules distinct,obtuse. Umbels small, 10-flowered, greenish yellow. Fruit red,size of a Bird Cherry. The rhizoma of this forms one of the Chinaroots of the shops; it is recommended as a substitute for Sarsaparilla.The Chinese eat it under the idea that it invigorates them.1276. S. glabra Roxb. fi. ind. iii. 792.cent Garrow country.Sylhet and the adja-Climbing from a large tuberous rhizoma. Stem and branches unarmed,polished. Leaves lanceolate, acuminate, rounded at the base,polished, 3-nerved, glaucous underneath. Umbels axillary, simple,sessile, solitary. Divisions of the perianth broad, obcordate. Roxburghsays that the rhizoma is not to be distinguished by the eye fromthe medicinal drug brought from China, under the name of China Root.The natives of Sylhet use a decoction of the fresh root annually for thecure of sores, and venereal complaints.1277. S. lanceaefolia Roxb. fl.ind. iii. 792. Eastern frontierof Bengal.Climbing from large tuberous rhizomata. Stem and branches unarmed,polished. Leaves lanceolate, 3-nerved, polished. Umbelssimple, axillary, solitary, stalked. Divisions of the perianth linear,oblong. Roxburgh informs us that the large tuberous rhizomata aremuch used by the natives of India, and are not to be distinguished from599 Q Q 4