Sarsaparilla

Sarsaparilla

Taxobox
color = lightgreen
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Liliopsida
ordo = Liliales
familia = Smilacaceae
genus = "Smilax"
species = "S. regelii"
binomial = "Smilax regelii"
binomial_authority = Killip & Morton
synonyms ="Smilax ornata" Hook.f.:"For the drink, see Root beer."

Sarsaparilla (IPA: /ˌsæspəˈɹɪlə/) ("Smilax regelii" and other closely related species of "Smilax") is a perennial trailing vine with prickly stems native to tropical America and the West Indies. Its name (which is ' in Spanish) comes from the Spanish words ' for "shrub" and "" for "little grape vine." [ [http://www.1001herbs.com/sarsaparilla/ Sarsaparilla ] ]

The name sarsaparilla can also refer to a drink made from the roots of the vine. The name "Sasparilla" is a common misspelling of Sarsaparilla.

Usage

The primary uses of sarsaparilla include the flavoring of beverages, and folk medicine.

In popular culture

* In the The Smurfs comic strip, the Smurfs preferred food is sarsaparilla leaves.

* In the animated series Wild West C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa , a special recipe sarsaparilla is the most popular beverage served at the Tumble Weed Saloon.

* In a later scene in the motion picture "The Big Lebowski", the unnamed narrator asks the bartender if he has a good sarsaparilla.

* In "Meet the Robinson" the old man uses it as an exclamation upon receiving his teeth.

References

External links

* [http://www.eherbal.org/data/sarsaparilla.html Sarsaparilla medical uses, doses, cautions, and other details]


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  • sarsaparilla — [sas΄pə ril′ə, särs΄pə ril′ə; sär΄səril′ə] n. [Sp zarzaparrilla < zarza, bramble + parrilla, dim. of parra, vine] 1. any of a number of tropical American, spiny, woody vines (genus Smilax) of the lily family, with large, fragrant roots and… …   English World dictionary

  • Sarsaparilla — Sar sa*pa*ril la, n. [Sp. zarzaparrilla; zarza a bramble (perhaps fr. Bisc. zartzia) + parra a vine, or Parillo, a physician said to have discovered it.] (Bot.) (a) Any plant of several tropical American species of {Smilax}. (b) The bitter… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Sarsaparilla — Sarsaparilla, 1) Sassaparille; Sarsaparillae radix (Sarsae radix, Sarsaparillwurzel), s. ebd.; 2) Deutsche S., so v.w. Carex arenaria …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • sarsaparilla — tropical American plant, 1570s, from Sp. zarzaparrilla, from zarza bramble (from Arabic sharas thorny plant or Basque sartzia bramble ) + parrilla, dim. of parra vine, of unknown origin. In 16c. 17c. the dried roots were held to be efficient in… …   Etymology dictionary

  • sarsaparilla — ► NOUN 1) a preparation of the dried roots of various plants, used to flavour drinks and medicines and formerly as a tonic. 2) a sweet drink flavoured with this. ORIGIN Spanish zarzaparilla, from zarza bramble + parra vine …   English terms dictionary

  • sarsaparilla — /sas peuh ril euh, sahr seuh peuh , sahr speuh /, n. 1. any of various climbing or trailing tropical American plants belonging to the genus Smilax, of the lily family, having alternate leaves, umbels of flowers, and a root that has been used in… …   Universalium

  • sarsaparilla — /saspəˈrɪlə / (say sahspuh riluh) noun 1. any of various climbing or trailing plants of the widely distributed genus Smilax, having a root which has been much used in medicine as an alterant. 2. Also, native sarsaparilla. any of several plants,… …  

  • sarsaparilla — Regelio sarsaparilis statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Sarsaparilinių šeimos dekoratyvinis, prieskoninis, vaistinis augalas (Smilax regelii), paplitęs Centrinėje ir Pietų Amerikoje. Iš jo gaminami maisto priedai (kvėpikliai). atitikmenys: lot …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • sarsaparilla — noun Etymology: Spanish zarzaparrilla, from zarza bush + parrilla, diminutive of parra vine Date: 1577 1. a. any of various tropical American greenbriers b. the dried roots of a sarsaparilla used especially as a flavoring 2. any of various plants …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • sarsaparilla — The dried root of Smilax aristolochiaefolia (Mexican s.), S. regelii (Honduras s.), S. febrifuga (Ecuadorian s.), or of undetermined species of Smilax (family Liliaceae), a thorny vine widely distributed throughout the tropical and semitropical… …   Medical dictionary

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