China root

English

Smilax china

Alternative forms

• china, china root, china-root, chinaroot

Noun

China root (countable and uncountable, plural China roots)

1. An East Asian plant of species Smilax glabra and the drugs made from the root, used in traditional Chinese medicine and formerly as a treatment for syphilis.
   • 1893, The Handbook of Jamaica, page 44:

     In his first report on the condition of the island he informed the King that "sugar, ginger, indigo, cotton, tobacco, dyeing woods and cocoa may be had and are produced as well as anywhere ; but pimento, chinaroots, aloes, rhubarb, sarsaparilla, tamarinds, cassia, vaignillios, hides and tallow are the proper commodities.

2. An East Asian liana of species Smilax china.

Derived terms

• false chinaroot (Smilax pseudochina)

References

• Chinaroot on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Smilax on Wikispecies.Wikispecies
• Smilax on Wikimedia Commons.Wikimedia Commons