Smilax regelii
| Smilax ornata | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Monocots |
| Order: | Liliales |
| Family: | Smilacaceae |
| Genus: | Smilax |
| Species: | S. ornata |
| Binomial name | |
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Smilax ornata Lem. |
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| Synonyms | |
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Smilax ornata is a perennial, trailing vine with prickly stems that is native to Mexico and Central America. Common names include sarsaparilla (/ˌsæspəˈrɪlə/ or /ˌsɑːspəˈrɪlə/),Honduran sarsaparilla, and Jamaican sarsaparilla. It is known in Spanish as , which is derived from the words zarza meaning "bramble" (from Basque sartzia "bramble"), and parrilla, meaning "little grape vine".
S. ornata is used as the basis for a soft drink frequently called sarsaparilla. It is also a primary ingredient in old fashioned-style root beer, in conjunction with sassafras, which was more widely available prior to studies of its potential health risks.
In southern states of India (particularly Tamil Nadu), sarsaparilla is called maahali or mahani, and is pickled and consumed as a 'mix' along with curd rice.
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Wikipedia