Smilax aspera

Scientific description

Taxon: Smilax aspera
Class: Monocotyledon
Subclass: Liliidae
Order: Liliales
Family: Smilacaceae
Common name: Rough bindweed, European sarsaparilla

Origin:
Mediterranean region.

Description:
Climbing subshrub with thin, spiny stems. Leaves alternate, heart-shaped, leathery, glossy, sometimes white-spotted, with spiny margins. Simple tendrils aid attachment. Yellow-green flowers in umbels bloom August–October. Red berries follow flowering.

Propagation:
By seeds (from berries) or rhizome division.

Ecology:
Found in warm, dry habitats: hedgerows, woodland edges, Mediterranean scrub, up to 800 m altitude.

Uses:
Traditionally used as a sudorific and depurative for skin diseases and rheumatism.

Threats:
Hardy and widespread species, classified as Least Concern.

Creative writing inspired by Smilax aspera

Sarsaparilla

Once upon a time, in a dense and mysterious forest, there was a plant called “Sarsaparilla”. Few people knew its name, but those who did remember its magic and secrets.
At first glance, sarsaparilla looked like a simple climbing vine, twisted and fragile, wrapping itself around trees.
One day, a young herbalist named Elias, curious to discover new plants with mysterious properties, decided to explore the forest. He had heard about sarsaparilla, but no one had ever ventured to look for the roots, as rumors were rife.
It was said that anyone who dared disturb this plant risked awakening an ancient, powerful and sometimes dangerous power. But Elias, determined to unravel this mystery, set off into the heart of the forest. As he walked, a strange feeling came over him. The air was charged with the sweet, earthy scent of roots, and every step seemed to bring him closer to something great and unspeakable.
Suddenly, he caught sight of the sarsaparilla, hidden under the shadows of the tall trees. It seemed almost alive. Elias reached out and touched one of its stems. At that moment, a strange warmth spread through his hand, and the vine began to twist, forming an intricate pattern around him and whispering, “I'm older than the world itself, but my secrets are not only remedies for the body, they also heal the soul. Those who respect and understand me discover that I weave bonds between beings, whether human or not”.
Elias realized that he had found something greater than a simple plant. He had discovered a deep connection with nature, an ancient wisdom he had never imagined. From that day on, he often returned to see the sarsaparilla, learning its secrets and sharing his own discoveries with it.
As the years passed, Elias became a renowned herbalist, known not only for his remedies, but also for his ability to heal hearts and souls. And every time he told his story, he always mentioned this plant, sarsaparilla.

Salsepareille

Il était une fois, dans une forêt dense et mystérieuse, une plante qui s’appelait « Salsepareille ». Peu de gens connaissent son nom, mais ceux qui l’avaient rencontrée se souvenaient de sa magie et de ses secrets.
La salsepareille, à première vue, rassemblait à une simple liane grimpante, tordue et fragile, s’enroulant autour des arbres.
Un jour, un jeune herboriste nommé Elias, curieux de découvrir de nouvelles plantes aux propriétés mystérieuses décida d’explorer cette forêt. On lui avait parlé de la salsepareille, mais personne n’avait jamais osé s’aventurer pour chercher les racines, car des rumeurs circulaient.
On disait que, qui que ce soit qui osait déranger cette plante risquait de réveiller un pouvoir ancien, puissant, et parfois dangereux. Mais Elias, bien décidé à percer ce mystère, se rendit au cœur de la forêt. Au fur et à mesure qu’il marchait, un sentiment étrange l’envahit. L’air était chargé de l’odeur douce et terreuse des racines, et chaque pas semblait le rapprocher de quelque chose de grand et d’indicible.
Soudainement, il aperçut la salsepareille, cachée sous les ombres des grands arbres. Elle semblait presque vivante. Elias s’approcha et toucha une de ses tiges. A cet instant, une chaleur étrange se diffusa dans sa main, et la liane se mit à se tordre, formant un motif complexe autour de lui et murmure « je suis plus ancienne que le monde lui-même, mais mes secrets ne sont pas seulement des remèdes pour le corps, ils guérissent aussi l’âme. Ceux qui me respectent et me comprennent découvrent que je tisse des liens entre les êtres, qu’ils soient humains ou non ».
Elias se rendit compte qu’il avait trouvé quelque chose de plus grand qu’une simple plante. Il avait découvert un lien profond avec la nature, une sagesse ancienne qu’il n’avait jamais imaginée. A partir de ce jour, il revient souvent voir la salsepareille, apprenant ses secrets et partageant avec elle ses propres découvertes.
Les années passèrent et Elias devint un herboriste renommé, connu non seulement pour ses remèdes, mais aussi pour sa capacité à guérir les cœurs et les âmes. Et à chaque fois qu’il racontait son histoire, il mentionnait toujours cette plante, la Salsepareille.

Sarsaparilla

A fost odată ca niciodată, într-o pădure deasă și misterioasă, o plantă numită „Sarsaparilla”. Puțini îi cunoșteau numele, dar cei care îl știau își aminteau de magia și secretele ei.
La prima vedere, sarsaparilla părea o simplă liană cățărătoare, răsucită și fragilă, încolăcindu-se în jurul copacilor.
Într-o zi, un tânăr erborist pe nume Elias, curios să descopere plante cu proprietăți misterioase, a decis să exploreze pădurea. Auzise vorbindu-se despre sarsaparilla, dar nimeni nu îndrăznise vreodată să caute rădăcinile sale, căci zvonurile erau înfricoșătoare.
Se spunea că oricine îndrăznea să tulbure această plantă risca să trezească o putere străveche, puternică și uneori periculoasă. Dar Elias, hotărât să dezlege acest mister, a pășit în inima pădurii.
Pe măsură ce mergea, un sentiment ciudat îl cuprindea. Aerul era încărcat cu un parfum dulce și pământiu al rădăcinilor, iar fiecare pas îl apropia de ceva măreț și de nespus.
Deodată, zări sarsaparilla, ascunsă sub umbrele copacilor înalți. Părea aproape vie. Elias întinse mâna și atinse una dintre tulpinile ei. În acel moment, o căldură ciudată i se răspândi prin mână, iar liana începu să se răsucească, formând un model complicat în jurul lui și șoptindu-i: „Sunt mai veche decât lumea însăși, dar secretele mele nu sunt doar leacuri pentru trup, ci și pentru suflet. Cei care mă respectă și mă înțeleg descoperă că țes legături între ființe, fie ele omenești sau nu.”
Elias înțelese că găsise ceva mai măreț decât o simplă plantă. Descoperise o conexiune profundă cu natura, o înțelepciune străveche pe care nu și-o imaginase vreodată. Din acea zi, se întorcea adesea să vadă sarsaparilla, învățându-i secretele și împărtășindu-i propriile descoperiri.
Anii au trecut, iar Elias a devenit un erborist renumit, cunoscut nu doar pentru leacurile sale, ci și pentru abilitatea de a vindeca inimi și suflete. Și de fiecare dată când își spunea povestea, pomenea întotdeauna de acea plantă – sarsaparilla.

Σαρσάπαριλλη

Μια φορά κι έναν καιρό, σε ένα πυκνό και μυστηριώδες δάσος, υπήρχε ένα φυτό που λεγόταν «Σαρσάπαριλλη». Λίγοι ήξεραν το όνομά του, αλλά όσοι το γνώριζαν θυμούνταν τη μαγεία και τα μυστικά του.
Με την πρώτη ματιά, η σαρσάπαριλλη έμοιαζε με ένα απλό αναρριχητικό φυτό, στριφογυριστό και εύθραυστο, που τυλιγόταν γύρω από τα δέντρα.
Μια μέρα, ένας νεαρός βοτανολόγος που λεγόταν Ηλίας, περίεργος να ανακαλύψει νέα φυτά με μυστηριώδεις ιδιότητες, αποφάσισε να εξερευνήσει το δάσος. Είχε ακούσει για τη σαρσάπαριλλη, αλλά κανείς δεν είχε τολμήσει να ψάξει για τις ρίζες της, καθώς κυκλοφορούσαν πολλές φήμες.
Λεγόταν ότι όποιος τολμούσε να ενοχλήσει αυτό το φυτό ρίσκαρε να ξυπνήσει μια αρχαία, δυνατή και μερικές φορές επικίνδυνη δύναμη. Αλλά ο Ηλίας, αποφασισμένος να ξεδιαλύνει το μυστήριο, ξεκίνησε για την καρδιά του δάσους. Καθώς περπατούσε, ένα παράξενο συναίσθημα τον κυρίευσε. Ο αέρας ήταν γεμάτος από το γλυκό, γήινο άρωμα των ριζών, και κάθε βήμα τον έφερνε πιο κοντά σε κάτι μεγάλο και άρρητο.
Ξαφνικά, είδε τη σαρσάπαριλλη, κρυμμένη κάτω από τις σκιές των ψηλών δέντρων. Έμοιαζε σχεδόν ζωντανή. Ο Ηλίας άπλωσε το χέρι του και άγγιξε έναν από τους βλαστούς της. Εκείνη τη στιγμή, μια παράξενη ζεστασιά απλώθηκε στο χέρι του, και το φυτό άρχισε να στριφογυρίζει, σχηματίζοντας ένα περίπλοκο μοτίβο γύρω του και ψιθυρίζοντας: «Είμαι πιο αρχαία από τον ίδιο τον κόσμο, αλλά τα μυστικά μου δεν είναι μόνο γιατρειά για το σώμα· θεραπεύουν και την ψυχή. Όσοι με σέβονται και με κατανοούν, ανακαλύπτουν ότι υφαίνω δεσμούς μεταξύ των όντων, είτε είναι ανθρώπινα είτε όχι».
Ο Ηλίας κατάλαβε πως είχε βρει κάτι μεγαλύτερο από ένα απλό φυτό. Είχε ανακαλύψει μια βαθιά σύνδεση με τη φύση, μια αρχαία σοφία που ποτέ δεν είχε φανταστεί. Από εκείνη τη μέρα, συχνά επέστρεφε για να δει τη σαρσάπαριλλη, μαθαίνοντας τα μυστικά της και μοιραζόμενος μαζί της τις δικές του ανακαλύψεις.
Καθώς περνούσαν τα χρόνια, ο Ηλίας έγινε διάσημος βοτανολόγος, γνωστός όχι μόνο για τα φάρμακά του, αλλά και για την ικανότητά του να θεραπεύει καρδιές και ψυχές. Και κάθε φορά που έλεγε την ιστορία του, ανέφερε πάντα αυτό το φυτό: τη σαρσάπαριλλη.

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Smilax aspera

Scientific description

Creative writing inspired by Smilax aspera

3D Interactive View

Authentic Specimen

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