Smilax febrifuga

Botanical Description

Smilax febrifuga is a perennial climbing plant, producing prickly stems up to 15 metres long from the rhizomatous rootstock[ 331 Title Flora of Guatemala Publication Author Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark Website http://www.archive.org/ Publisher Year 1946 - 1976 ISBN Description A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/ ]. This is one of the main species that supply commercial sarsaparilla - the rhizomes being used medicinally and as a flavouring in foods. The rhizomes are also used locally and are sold in local markets for medicinal use[ 46 Title Dictionary of Economic Plants. Publication Author Uphof. J. C. Th. Publisher Weinheim Year 1959 ISBN - Description An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader. ].