فشاغ قاس

Found in Azad Kashmir and Murree Hills from 1000-2000 m. Also reported from Karachi and Sind by Hasanain & Rahman (Pl.Kar. & Sind.76.1957) but the record needs confirmation.

Roots and stems contain a heteroside, parillin and potassium nitrate. Medicinally used as a substitute for Indian sarsaparilla; also used as a diuretic.

Shrubby climber, branches mostly with hooks and spines. Leaves 50-150 x 33-95 mm, broadly ovate to ovate or ovate-lanceolate, cordate, astate or cuneate at base; apex obtuse or acute, mucronate; margin entire or spiny ; leaf distinctly 3(-5)-nerved, midrib sometimes spiny below. Petiole c. 29 mm long, sometimes prickly with a pair of tendrils at the base. Flowers in umbellate racemes, white, fragrant. Peduncle c. 6 mm long. Pedicels c. 6 mm long, filiform. Bracteoles minute. Perianth segments 5 mm long, the outer linear-oblong, the inner linear, with a dark mid-portion. Male flower: filaments c. 3 mm long, anther 1 mm long. Female flower: staminodes 6; stigmas oblong. Berry globose. c. 5 mm long and broad, red, turning blue-black when ripe. Seed c. 4 mm long, dark brown.

Vines climbing. Stem and branches woody, ridged-angled, usually very sparsely prickly; prickles short, slightly compressed. Petiole often curved or twisted, 3--4 cm, sometimes sparsely prickly, wingless; abscission zone apical; tendrils rather long. Leaf blade cordate-deltoid to ovate-lanceolate, 6--15 × 5--9.5 cm. Inflorescence a spike of 5--25 umbels, 7--45 cm, basally prophyllate; umbels of both sexes sessile on elongate rachis, 3--6-flowered, base slightly thickened; bracteoles many, broadly ovate. Male flowers: tepals white, 4--5 × ca. 1 mm; stamens 2--2.5 mm. Female flowers: tepals slightly smaller than male ones; staminodes 6. Fl. Jan--Feb, fr. Nov--Dec. 2 n = 32*.

Widespread from Mediterranean and E. Africa eastwards to India & Ceylon.

Distribution: Throughout India, Kashmir, Sri Lanka, S. Europe, Syria, N. Africa.

S Xizang, SW Yunnan [Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal; E and N Africa, SW Asia, C and S Europe].

1200-2600 m

Fl.Per.: Sept.-March. Fr.Per.: May-Aug.

Forests; 1000--2000 m.

Smilax maculata Roxburgh.