Smilax aspera
Rough sarsaparilla ( Smilax aspera )
The Rough sarsaparilla ( Smilax aspera ) is a climbing shrub with striking glossy, heart - shaped leaves up to pike and red berries. It grows in the Mediterranean region, Africa, and Asia.
Description
The Rough Sarsaparilla is a perennial, evergreen, up to 15 meters high climbing shrub. The branches are clearly square, bent back and forth, and more or less densely covered with slightly curved, short and slightly compressed spines. The leaves often have a curved or twisted, 3-4 cm long, sometimes occupied with few spines stalk. At the base of the petiole grow two long tendrils. The leaf blade is tough leathery, cordate - triangular to ovate - lanceolate, 6-15 cm long and 5 to 9.5 centimeters wide. The leaf base is cordate or broadly wedge -shaped. The leaf margin and the midrib of the lower leaf surface are often provided with spines. Both leaf pages are glossy green, the top is often spotted or marbled white. Each leaf four to nine veins are formed.
The Rough sarsaparilla is dioecious. The composite inflorescence is a 7 to 45 -inch-long spike from 5 to 25 seated, three to sechsblütigen umbels with extended spindle and slightly thickened base. Are formed numerous broadly ovate bracts. The flowers are fragrant. The perianth is simple and not divided into calyx and corolla. The petals of the male flowers are white, 4-5 mm long and about 1 mm wide and form 2 to 2.5 mm long stamens. Female flowers have somewhat smaller petals and have six staminodes. As fruits plump berries with diameters of up to 5 mm are formed. They are initially red and discolored later blue-black. The seeds are 4 millimeters long and are dark brown.
The chromosome number is 2n = 32
Dissemination
The distribution of Rauen sarsaparilla extends from the Mediterranean to Malawi in Africa and to India, Nepal and Sri Lanka in Asia. It thrives in maquis, woods and along walls. In China they are found in forests at altitudes of 1000-2000 meters in the southwest of Yunnan and south of the Tibet Autonomous Region.
System
The Rough sarsaparilla ( Smilax aspera ) is a species in the genus of sarsaparilla ( Smilax ) from the family of the piercing wind plants ( Smilacaceae ). The species was described in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus in his work Species Plantarum first time scientifically. Synonyms of species are Smilax aspericaulis Wall. ex A. DC., Smilax maculata Roxb. and Smilax sagittata Desv. ex Ham.
There have been described several varieties or subspecies whose status is unclear. Smilax aspera subsp The subspecies. mauritanica ( Poir. ) Arc. has broad heart-shaped leaves and is almost spineless.
Use
The young shoots are eaten like wild asparagus as a vegetable. The roots and shoots contain Straight Side, Parillin and Kalumnitrat. They have been used medicinally as a diuretic and as a substitute for Smilax regelis.