Word Study
smilax
CIDE DICTIONARY
smilax, n. [L., bindweed, Gr. .].
A genus of perennial climbing plants, usually with a prickly woody stem; green brier, or cat brier. The rootstocks of certain species are the source of the medicine called sarsaparilla. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
smilax, n.
1 any climbing shrub of the genus Smilax, the roots of some species of which yield sarsaparilla.
2 a climbing kind of asparagus, Asparagus medeoloides, used decoratively by florists.
1 any climbing shrub of the genus Smilax, the roots of some species of which yield sarsaparilla.
2 a climbing kind of asparagus, Asparagus medeoloides, used decoratively by florists.
Etymology
L f. Gk, = bindweed
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