Smilax glyciphylla
Species of flowering plant
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Smilax glyciphylla, the sweet sarsaparilla, is a dioecious climber native to eastern Australia. It is widespread in rainforest, sclerophyll forest and woodland; mainly in coastal regions.
| Sweet sarsaparilla | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Spermatophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Liliales |
| Family: | Smilacaceae |
| Genus: | Smilax |
| Species: | S. glyciphylla |
| Binomial name | |
| Smilax glyciphylla | |
The leaves are distinctly three-veined with a glaucous under-surface, lanceolate, 4–10 cm long by 1.5–4 cm wide. Coiling tendrils are up to 8 cm long. The globose berries are 5–8 mm in diameter, black with a singular seed.[1]
Uses
The fruit is edible. The sweet flavoured leaves are used medicinally[2] by Indigenous people and non-Indigenous colonists, including as a tea substitute.[3]
It was used medicinally in the earliest days of the colony of Port Jackson for treating scurvy, coughs and chest complaints. In correspondence to England in November 1788, Dennis Considen wrote: "I have sent you some of the sweet tea of this country which I recommended and is generally used by the marines and convicts as such it is a fair antiscorbutic as well as a substitute for tea which is more costly."[4]
It was recommended as a tea alternative, tonic and antiscorbutic, and was still being traded at least up until the late 19th century by Sydney herbalists.[5] It is claimed to have similar properties to Jamaican sarsaparilla, Smilax regelii.
The leaves, stems, and flowers contain the glycoside glyciphyllin, which has a bitter-sweet taste and may be the active medicinal component.[6][7][8]
Recent research shows that S. glyciphylla has antioxidant activity.[9]
Gallery
Leaves of Smilax glyciphylla showing three prominent veins. Drawing Room Rocks Track, near Berry, NSW.
