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Sassaparilla is tall. Legends, myths, symbolism, description, cultivation, methods of application

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Content

1. Photos, basic scientific information, legends, myths, symbolism
2. Genus, family, origin, range, chemical composition, economic importance
3. Botanical description, reference data, useful information, illustrations
4. Recipes for use in traditional medicine and cosmetology
5. Tips for growing, harvesting and storing

Sassaparilla high, Smilax excelsa. Photos of the plant, basic scientific information, legends, myths, symbolism

Basic scientific information, legends, myths, symbolism

Sort by: Smilax

Family: Smilacaceae (Smilacaceae)

Origin: Central and South America, Africa, Asia, Australia

Area: Sassaparilla high is found in tropical and temperate zones of America, Africa, Asia and Australia.

Chemical composition: The roots and rhizomes of the plant contain glycosides, starch, resins, tannins and essential oils. The leaves contain anthraquinone glycosides.

Economic value: Sassaparilla high is used in medicine, as well as for the production of soft drinks and sweets. In addition, tall sarsaparilla is used as an ornamental plant.

Legends, myths, symbolism: In some Native American tribes, sarsaparilla tall played an important role in religious rites and culture. In some tribes, the juice of the sarsaparilla root was used as a sacred remedy for purification and protection. Symbolically, sarsaparilla was associated with strength, protection, and healing, and was used in amulets and other talismans to attract these qualities.

Sassaparilla high, Smilax excelsa. Description, illustrations of the plant

Sassaparilla high, Smilax excelsa. Botanical description of the plant, area, methods of application, cultivation

Semi-evergreen liana (sheds foliage for a very short period of time - 2-3 weeks in spring) up to 10-20 meters high and with a stem diameter of up to 1 cm. The stems are evenly dotted with sharp, strong curved spikes 5-8 mm long. The average distance between individual spines is about 7-12 cm.

These shoots are very tear-resistant and suitable for making ropes. The color of adult woody shoots is dark green. With its strength, an adult shoot is not easy to cut by hand, even with a sharp knife. Climbing high on the trees, the stalks of sarsaparilla form thick and impenetrable curtains.

Leaves of variable shape, mostly ovate-heart-shaped, less often guitar-shaped, shortly pointed at the apex, sometimes spiny along the edge, short-petiolate, leathery, entire, 3-8 cm long, on short petioles with 2 tendrils at its base, twisting around the support.

The plant is dioecious, the flowers are unisexual, placed in axillary semi-umbels (4-10 flowers each), sitting on peduncles 1,5-2 cm long. Perianth petaloid, six-leaved, wide open, greenish. Male flowers with 6 stamens attached to the base of the perianth. Female flowers with 1 ovary with 3 stigmas. Blooms from May to December. Propagated by seeds and rhizomes.

The fruit is a red spherical 1-3 nested berry up to 1 cm in diameter. The fruits ripen in October-January and often remain hanging all winter until spring. Non-poisonous, but inedible to humans. They are eaten by birds that carry indigestible seeds over long distances (endozoochory).

Distributed in the Mediterranean, Asia Minor, the Caucasus (the Black Sea coast, Western Transcaucasia, the Caspian coast of Southern Dagestan in the forests of the Samur River delta), in Iran. In the Crimea, it was introduced into culture as an ornamental and can be met with a wild one.

View with a wide ecology, from marshy forests to limestone cliffs. It grows in the lowlands and in the lower belt of mountains, along the edges, in clearings, in moist shady places, in riverine forests, gardens, among shrubs.

The most important component of sarsaparilla is parillin glucoside (1-1,88%). Adventitious roots (pharmaceutical name - Radix Sarsaparillae, sarsaparilla root) contain steroidal saponins, the main roots - parillin oligosides and sarsaparilloside, sarsapogenin derivatives.

The inner layer of the bark contains a significant amount of starch; in the center of the root is a yellowish woody part; the center of the kernel is represented by a white core, also rich in starch; the taste of the root is slimy, then somewhat bitter and pungent. Contains, in addition to starch, smilacin (an indifferent substance), resin, a bitter extractive substance and organic acids.

The soft tops of the growing stems are eaten boiled. The fruits are not edible, although they are not poisonous.

In the Caucasus, local residents collect sarsaparilla and prepare a kind of canned food from young shoots (antennae) of a dark red color and eat it as a seasoning for various meat dishes. In Western Georgia, boiled sarsaparili tendrils are used to prepare the Georgian national appetizer pkhali from ekala (the Georgian name is sarsaparili). Freshly picked shoots of the plant (tops) are very often eaten raw, they taste sour-bitter and juicy. The woody part of the plant is not eaten, because it is not only inedible, but also resembles steel wire in its strength, and in addition it is dotted with sharp spikes (thorns).

A decoction of the roots of sarsaparilla is used as a diuretic, antisyphilitic agent, for rheumatism and gout.

Sarsaparilla root was introduced to Europe by the Spaniards in 1536-1545. and has since been used against syphilis, chronic rheumatism and other diseases. In 1553, Cieza de Leon, in the Chronicle of Peru, gave the first description of sarsaparilla and reported on its importance in the treatment of certain diseases, in particular syphilis:

"The roots of this plant are useful for many diseases, as well as for a purulent disease (el mal de bubas - syphilis) and the pain caused to people by this contagious disease. And therefore those who wish to be cured are located in a hot place, hiding so that the cold or the air did not harm the disease, taking only a laxative and eating selected fruits, and abstaining from food, and drinking a drink from these roots, mixed for this in the required proportions, and the extracted liquid, which comes out very clean and without an unpleasant taste and smell, is given for several days in a row drink to the patient without affecting him by other methods, which is why the disease leaves the body, therefore he quickly recovers and becomes healthier than he was, and the body, as if rinsed, without marks and traces, which usually appear from other drugs, rather it becomes so perfect, as if there had never been an ailment in it. And therefore, indeed, great cures took place in that village of Guayaquil at various times. And many who had damaged insides inside, and rotten bodies, drinking a drink from these roots, recovered, and gained a better skin color than during illness. And others who came with neglected abscesses located on the body, and also had a bad breath, drinking this liquid, recovered completely in a few days. Finally, many who bloated, who became covered with ulcers, they all returned home healthy. And I believe that it is one of the best roots or plants in the world, and the most useful, as evidence, is many who have recovered from taking it.

It was believed that for medical purposes it is preferable to use lateral cylindrical pieces of the root up to 70 or more cm long, 3-6 mm thick, covered with wrinkled gray-brown bark with longitudinal grooves. The drug is cut into pieces and in this form is stored in pharmacies. It was used in the treatment of secondary and tertiary syphilis in the form of an official Cytman decoction; outside it was used in rare cases as a rinse in dental practice.

The length of woody shoots of sarsaparilla, growing in the wild, often reaches 30-50 meters, these shoots are very tear-resistant and suitable for making ropes. With its strength, an adult shoot is not easy to cut by hand, even with a sharp knife.

Sassaparilla high, Smilax excelsa. Recipes for use in traditional medicine and cosmetology

Ethnoscience:

• Antibacterial agent: sarsaparilla high root is used to fight bacterial infections such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, influenza and others. To prepare the infusion, use 1-2 grams of the root per 1 cup of boiling water. Infusion drink 1/3 cup 3 times a day before meals.
• Antioxidant: in folk medicine, sarsaparilla high is used as an antioxidant. A recipe for making an infusion from the root and leaves of sarsaparilla is known. To do this, 1 tablespoon of the root and leaves are poured into a teapot and poured with 1 liter of boiling water. Infusion drink 1/3 cup 3 times a day.
• Anti-inflammatory agent: sarsaparilla high is used to treat inflammatory diseases such as arthritis, rheumatism, dermatitis and others. To prepare the infusion, use 1-2 grams of the root per 1 cup of boiling water. Infusion drink 1/3 cup 3 times a day.

Cosmetology:

• Mask for the face: mix 1 tablespoon of sarsaparilla juice with 1 tablespoon of green clay and some water to make a paste. Apply the mask on your face for 15-20 minutes, then rinse with water.
• Face tonic: pour 2 tablespoons of crushed sarsaparilla root with 1 cup of boiling water and leave for 20 minutes. Cool, strain and add a few drops of lavender essential oil. Use toner after cleansing your face.
• Face cream: Pound 1 tablespoon dried sarsaparilla root in a mortar and mortar, then add 2 tablespoons coconut oil and 1 tablespoon honey. Heat the mixture in a water bath until the honey is completely dissolved, then cool and apply on the face in the morning and evening.

Attention! Before use, consult with a specialist!

Sassaparilla high, Smilax excelsa. Tips for growing, harvesting and storing

Sassaparilla tall (Smilax excelsa) is an evergreen liana plant with thick roots that can be grown in the garden or country house.

Tips for growing, harvesting and storing high sarsaparilla:

Cultivation:

• Sassaparilla tall prefers sunny or semi-shady areas with well-drained soil.
• Plants can be planted in spring or autumn.
• Planting depth should be the same as in the pot in which the plant was purchased.
• It is recommended to plant plants at a distance of about 60-90 cm from each other.
• Sassaparilla tall needs regular watering and fertilizing to encourage growth and abundant flowering.
• It is recommended to remove faded flowers and dry leaves to encourage new growth.
• Sassaparilla tall can be prone to attack by pests such as mites, so it's a good idea to check your plants regularly for pests.

Workpiece:

• The roots of sarsaparilla high can be used to make medicines. They should be collected at the end of autumn, when the plant begins to prepare for the winter period, dried and stored in a tightly closed package.

Storage:

• Dried sarsaparilla roots should be stored in a cool and dry place to preserve their freshness and flavor.
• The ideal place to store sarsaparilla roots is in a tightly closed container in a cool, dry place such as a pantry or refrigerator.

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