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Smilax aristolochiifolia - Mill.

Common Name Mexican Sarsaparilla
Family Smilacaceae
USDA hardiness 10-12
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Not known
Range Central America - Belize, Guatemala, Mexico.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (4 of 5)
Care (info)
Tender Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Smilax aristolochiifolia Mexican Sarsaparilla


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Smilax aristolochiifolia Mexican Sarsaparilla
http://www.edibleplants.org

 

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Summary

Mexican Sarsaparilla, Smilax aristolochiifolia, is a perennial climbing plant native to Mexico and Central America. It is also known as gray sarsaparilla or sarsaparilla. Its leaves are ovate, paper-like, leathery, and alternate. The fruits are small red berries with 2 or 3 seeds. The flowers are small and green, readily symmetrical, and dioecious. S. aristolochiifolia is medicinally used against inflammation, itching, digestive problems, fevers, kidney disorders, gonorrhea, scrofulous, skin diseases, and rheumatism. Root extracts are used as flavoring in beverages, ice cream, confectioneries, and bakery products.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Smilax aristolochiifolia is an evergreen Perennial Climber growing to 5 m (16ft) by 0.5 m (1ft 8in) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Smilax kerberi F.W.Apt Smilax medica Schltdl. & Cham.

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Root
Edible Uses: Condiment

Root extracts are used to flavour soft drinks ice cream, confectionery and bakery products[238 , 301 ]. A bitter, liquorice-like root[301 ].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Acrid  Alterative  Antiinflammatory  Antirheumatic  Antiseptic  Digestive  Febrifuge  Kidney  
Skin

Mexican sarsaparilla (the roots and rhizome) is a sweet, acrid, alterative herb that reduces inflammation, controls itching, improves digestion and elimination and is antiseptic[238 ]. This is one of three species (the others are S. Febrifuga and S. Regelii) that gained a high reputation in the 17th century as cure-alls[238 ]. They were widely imported into Europe until early in the 20th century, by which time their rather overrated reputation had waned somewhat. However, the plants do have a number of important medicinal benefits - in particular, their roots contain steroidal saponins which are an effective treatment for many cases of psoriasis; they also have hormonal effects, and may improve fertility in women with ovarian dysfunction[238 ]. The rhizomes are alterative, digestive, febrifuge[46 , 238 ]. A decoction is used in the treatment of fevers, digestive disorders, kidney troubles and gonorrhoea[46 ]. It is also used against scrophulus, skin diseases and rheumatism[46 ].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Other Uses: None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Not known

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Seed -

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

american sarsaparilla, gray sarsaparilla, mexican sarsaparilla, mexiko-sarsaparille, salsapariglia smilace, salsaparrilha, salsaparrilha de minas de gerais, salsaparrilha do mexico, salsaparrilha do para, salsepareille, salsepareille du mexique, sarsaparilla, sarsaparilla radix, ushba, ushba maghrabi, vera cruz sarsaparilla, veracruz sarsaparilla, wild liquorice, zarzaparilla.

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: Mexico (Tabasco, Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave, Yucatán) SOUTHERN AMERICA: Belize, Guatemala

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Smilax asperaSarsaparilla, Rough bindweedClimber3.0 8-11  LMHSNM333
Smilax auriculataEarleaf GreenbrierClimber7.0 -  LMHSNM22 
Smilax bona-noxGreenbriar, Saw greenbrier, Dunes saw greenbrierClimber6.0 0-0  LMHSNM32 
Smilax chinaChina RootClimber4.5 5-9  LMHSNM431
Smilax cordifolia Perennial0.0 -  LMHSNM10 
Smilax discotis Climber7.0 7-10  LMHSNM10 
Smilax febrifugaEcuadorian SarsaparillaClimber12.0 10-12 FLMHSNM340
Smilax glabratufulingClimber3.0 -  LMHSNM23 
Smilax glaucaCat GreenbrierClimber5.0 4-8  LMHSNDM22 
Smilax glyciphyllaSarsparillaClimber0.0 -  LMHSNM11 
Smilax herbaceaCarrion Flower, Smooth carrionflowerPerennial Climber2.5 4-8  LMHSNM412
Smilax hispidaHag BriarClimber15.0 4-8  LMHSNM22 
Smilax lanceifolia Climber2.0 -  LMHSNM21 
Smilax laurifoliaLaurel GreenbrierClimber6.0 7-10  LMHSNM320
Smilax nipponica Perennial Climber2.0 -  LMHSNM32 
Smilax officinalisHonduran sarsaparillaPerennial Climber25.0 10-12 FLMHSNM242
Smilax pseudochinaFalse China RootClimber2.0 -  LMHSNMWe32 
Smilax riparia Perennial Climber0.0 -  LMHSNM20 
Smilax rotundifoliaHorse Brier, Roundleaf greenbrier, BramblesClimber12.0 4-9 FLMHSNM320
Smilax sieboldii Climber2.0 -  LMHSNM10 
Smilax tamnoidesBristly GreenbrierClimber0.0 -  LMHSNM22 
Smilax trinervula Perennial1.0 -  LMHSNM10 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Mill.

Botanical References

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.

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