Smilax
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Smilax is the common name and name of the genus which includes 300 hundred different species of flowering plants in the Family Smilacaceae. Some species are used medicinally, such as China root (S. china) which is commonly used in traditional Chinese herbal medicines.
Reproduction
Smilax reproduces very quickly. Carrion flower and greenbrier are the major groups in smilax.
- Smilax china (China root): China root has green leaves and develops red berries when it fruits. The leaves are wide oviform or rotund, their length is from 3cm to 10cm. The flowers of China root are yellow-green, and always have several individuals which combine to make an umbrella form. The florescence lasts from April to May. The berries are spherical and red, maturing in September and October. China root likes light, but it can tolerate a little bit of shade; it also tolerates drought, and leanness. Smilax reproduces by seeds. [1]
- Carrion flower: Carrion flower is the common name for these plants that have the same characteristics. [2] As we can see from the name, carrion flowers are nurtured by decomposing flesh, and absorb nitrogen from dead insects or flesh. They have their own special smell which is very attractive to insects. This makes the insects stop on the flowers and then the special structures imprison the insects so they cannot move any more. However, their pungent smell isn't attractive to humans who find it very disgusting. Sometimes the plant will make the insects stay on the flowers without moving for only a little while, and then, when the insects fly away from the flower, they carry the pollen of the flower to other places, and thus, grow new offspring at the other places. [3]
Ecology
There are about 60 different kinds of smilax in China, and most of them are found near the southern Changjiang River, while a few of them can be found in the west and the northwest of China.[4] Smilax is distributed in Torrid and Subtropical Zones, and species can be found in every state of the United State. However, different species grow in different areas, and they can reproduce very fast. [5]
Smilax is a hardy plant, able to survive when severely damaged and in environmental extremes. Usually smilax seeds spread by wind and animals. Because some species of smilax are the preferred food for some birds, it will spread over a large geographical area. When smilax's seed comes to a place that has very low temperatures, the low temperature will help the seed germinated very well.[6]You could found smilax in a lot of countries.
Uses
The root-stock (caudexes) of S. china (China Root) are used in traditional Chinese medicine. They are said to help relieve colds, and eliminate body toxins. During the summer and autumn, it is collected and its rhizome cleaned for use. China root doesn't have a strong taste, and it can help eliminate fluids since it is diuretic.[7]
Sarsaparilla is also a medically useful species. Sarsaparilla can reduce fever because it can induce sweating. It helps with skin problems, it can detoxify the inside your body.[8] But we still need to do some further study of sarsaparilla to discover some new uses for it. For example, during early days, people used sarsaparilla to deal with arthritis because people found that sarsaparilla can reduce your pain from the reaction of inflammation.
Gallery
Rough bindweed
(Smilax aspera)
Earleaf greenbrier
(Smilax australis)
Stracciabraghe
(Smilax aspera)
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References
- Smilax U.S. Department of Agriculture
- Smilax by Florida Forest Plants
- 菝葜属 by Baidu
- Smilax china by Plants For A Future
- Carrion flower by Wikipedia
- Carrion Flower by Home.att.net
- Smilax by Wikipedia
- China Root by Sen
- Sarsaparilla by Durgdigest
