Smilax Megacarpa

''Smilax'' is a genus of about 300–350 species, found in the tropics and subtropics worldwide.Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
/ref> In China for example about 80 are found (39 of which are endemic), while there are 20 in North America north of Mexico. They are climbing flowering plants, many of which are woody and/or thorny, in the monocotyledon family Smilacaceae, native throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world.
Common names include ''catbriers'', ''greenbriers'', ''prickly-ivys'' and ''smilaxes''. ''Sarsaparilla'' (also zarzaparrilla, sarsparilla) is a name used specifically for the Jamaican '' S. ornata'' as well as a catch-all term in particular for American species. Occasionally, the non-woody species such as the smooth herbaceous greenbrier (''S. herbacea'') are separated as genus ''Nemexia''; they are commonly known by the rather ambiguous name ''carrion flowers''.

Greenbriers get their scientific name from the Greek myth of Crocus and the nymph Smilax. Though this myth has numerous forms, it always centers around the unfulfilled and tragic love of a mortal man who is turned into a flower, and a woodland nymph who is transformed into a brambly vine.

Description

On their own, ''Smilax'' plants will grow as shrubs, forming dense impenetrable thickets. They will also grow over trees and other plants up to 10 m high, their hooked thorns allowing them to hang onto and scramble over branches. The genus includes both deciduous and evergreen species. The leaves are heart shaped and vary from 4–30 cm long in different species.

Greenbrier is dioecious. However, only about one in three colonies have plants of both sexes. Plants flower in May and June with white/green clustered flowers. If pollination occurs, the plant will produce a bright red to blue-black spherical berry fruit about 5–10 mm in diameter that matures in the fall.

Taxonomy

The genus has traditionally been considered as divided into a number of sections, but molecular phylogenetic studies reveals that these morphologically defined subdivisions are not monophyletic. Subdivision is best considered in terms of clades (A–D), corresponding to biogeography, with the main divisions being Old World (clades C, D) and New World (clade B) with the exception of '' S. aspera'', that appears to be sister to all other species (clade A) and has a tri-continental disjunction.

Section ''Smilax'' includes " woody", prickly vines of temperate North America, for example cat greenbrier ('' S. glauca'') and common greenbrier ('' S. rotundifolia'').FNAEC (2002) Section ''Nemexia'' includes unarmed herbaceous plants of temperate North America, for example " carrion flowers" like the smooth herbaceous greenbrier ('' S. herbacea''). Section '' Heterosmilax'' represents a previous separate genus that was found to be embedded within Smilax, and was reduced to a section within it.

List of selected species

* ''Smilax aberrans'' Gagnep.
* '' Smilax aculeatissima'' Conran
* ''Smilax amblyobasis'' K.Krause
* ''Smilax ampla'' Warb. ex K.Krause
* '' Smilax anceps'' Willd.
* ''Smilax anguina'' K.Krause
* '' Smilax annulata'' Warb. ex K.Krause
* '' Smilax aquifolium'' Ferrufino & Greuter
* ''Smilax arisanensis'' Hayata
* ''Smilax aristolochiifolia'' Mill. – American sarsaparilla
* '' Smilax aspera'' L. – Mediterranean smilax, common smilax, rough smilax
* '' Smilax aspericaulis''Wall. ex A.DC.
* ''Smilax assumptionis'' A.DC.
* ''Smilax astrosperma'' F.T.Wang & Tang
* '' Smilax auriculata'' Walter
* ''Smilax australis'' R.Br. – lawyer vine, barbwire vine, wait-a-while (Australia)
* '' Smilax azorica'' H.Schaef. & P.Schönfelder
* ''Smilax bapouensis'' H.Li
* ''Smilax basilata'' F.T.Wang & Tang
* ''Smilax bauhinioides'' Kunth
* ''Smilax bella'' J.F.Macbr.
* ''Smilax biflora'' Siebold ex Miq.
* '' Smilax biltmoreana'' (Small) J.B.Norton ex Pennell
* '' Smilax biumbellata'' T.Koyama
* ''Smilax blumei'' A.DC.
* ''Smilax bockii'' Warb.
* ''Smilax bona-nox'' L. – saw greenbrier
* ''Smilax borneensis'' A.DC.
* '' Smilax bracteata'' Presl
* ''Smilax brasiliensis'' Sprengel.
* ''Smilax californica'' (A.DC.) A.Gray
* ''Smilax calophylla'' Wall. ex A.DC.
* ''Smilax cambodiana'' Gagnep.
* ''Smilax campestris'' Griseb.
* ''Smilax canariensis'' Willd.
* ''Smilax canellifolia'' Mill.
* ''Smilax celebica'' Blume
* ''Smilax chapaensis'' Gagnep.
* ''Smilax china'' L.
* ''Smilax chingii'' F.T. Wang & Ts.Tang
* ''Smilax cinnamomea'' Desf. ex A.DC.
* ''Smilax cissoides'' M.Martens & Galeotti
* ''Smilax cocculoides'' Warb.
* ''Smilax cognata'' Kunth
* ''Smilax compta'' (Killip & C.V.Morton) Ferrufino
* ''Smilax corbularia'' Kunth
* ''Smilax cordato-ovata'' Rich.
* ''Smilax cordifolia'' Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.
* '' Smilax coriacea'' Spreng.
* ''Smilax cristalensis'' Ferrufino & Greuter
* ''Smilax cuprea'' Ferrufino & Greuter
* ''Smilax cuspidata'' Duhamel
* ''Smilax cyclophylla'' Warb.
* '' Smilax darrisii'' H.Lév.
* ''Smilax davidiana'' A.DC.
* ''Smilax densibarbata'' F.T.Wang & Tang
* ''Smilax discotis'' Warb.
* ''Smilax domingensis'' Willd.
* ''Smilax ecirrhata'' (Engelm. ex Kunth) S.Wats.
* ''Smilax elastica'' Griseb.
* ''Smilax elegans'' Wall.
* ''Smilax elegantissima'' Gagnep.
* ''Smilax elmeri'' Merr.
* '' Smilax elongatoumbellata'' Hayata
* ''Smilax emeiensis'' J.M.Xu
* ''Smilax erecta'' Merr.
* ''Smilax excelsa'' L.
* ''Smilax extensa'' A.DC.
* ''Smilax ferox'' Wall. ex Kunth
* ''Smilax flavicaulis'' Rusby
* ''Smilax fluminensis'' Steud.
* ''Smilax fooningensis'' F.T.Wang & Tang
* ''Smilax gagnepainii'' T.Koyama
* ''Smilax gigantea'' Merr.
* ''Smilax gigantocarpa'' Koord.
* ''Smilax glabra'' Roxb. – chinaroot, ' ()
* ''Smilax glauca'' Walter – cat greenbrier, glaucous greenbrier
* ''Smilax glaucochina'' Warb.
* ''Smilax glyciphylla'' Sm. – sweet sarsaparilla, native sarsaparilla (Australia)
* ''Smilax goyazana'' A.DC.
* '' Smilax gracilior'' Ferrufino & Greuter
* ''Smilax griffithii'' A.DC.
* '' Smilax guianensis'' Vitman
* ''Smilax guiyangensis'' C.X.Fu & C.D.Shen
* ''Smilax havanensis'' Jacq.
* ''Smilax hayatae'' T.Koyama
* ''Smilax hemsleyana'' Craib.
* '' Smilax herbacea'' L. – smooth herbaceous greenbrier, carrion flower (southern Quebec in Canada, Eastern United States)
* ''Smilax hilariana'' A.DC.
* ''Smilax horridiramula'' Hayata
* '' Smilax hugeri'' (Small) J.B.Norton ex Pennell
* ''Smilax hypoglauca'' Benth.
* ''Smilax ilicifolia'' Desv. ex Ham.
* ''Smilax illinoensis'' Mangaly – Illinois greenbrier
* ''Smilax indosinica'' T.Koyama
* ''Smilax inversa'' T.Koyama
* '' Smilax irrorata'' Mart. ex Griseb.
* '' Smilax jamesii'' G.Wallace
* ''Smilax japicanga'' Griseb.
* ''Smilax javensis'' A.DC.
* ''Smilax kaniensis'' K.Krause
* ''Smilax keyensis'' Warb. ex K.Krause
* '' Smilax kingii'' Hook.f.
* ''Smilax klotzschii'' Kunth
* ''Smilax korthalsii'' A.DC.
* ''Smilax kwangsiensis'' F.T.Wang & Tang
* '' Smilax lanceifolia'' Roxb.
* '' Smilax lappacea'' Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.
* ''Smilax larvata'' Griseb.
* ''Smilax lasioneura'' Hook. – herbaceous greenbrier
* ''Smilax lasseriana'' Steyerm.
* ''Smilax laurifolia'' L.
* ''Smilax lebrunii'' H.Lév.
* ''Smilax leucophylla'' Blume
* '' Smilax ligneoriparia'' C.X.Fu & P.Li
* '' Smilax ligustrifolia'' A.DC.
* ''Smilax loheri'' Merr
* ''Smilax longifolia'' Rich.
* '' Smilax lucida''Merr.
* ''Smilax luei'' T.Koyama
* '' Smilax lunglingensis'' F.T.Wang & Tang
* '' Smilax lushuiensis'' S.C.Chen
* ''Smilax lutescens'' Vell.
* ''Smilax luzonensis'' Presl
* ''Smilax macrocarpa'' Blume
* ''Smilax magnifolia'' J.F.Macbr.
* ''Smilax mairei'' Lev.
* ''Smilax malipoensis'' S.C.Chen
* ''Smilax maritima'' Feay ex Alph.Wood
* '' Smilax maypurensis'' Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.
* ''Smilax megacarpa'' A.DC.
* ''Smilax megalantha'' C.H.Wright
* ''Smilax melanocarpa'' Ridl.
* ''Smilax melastomifolia'' Sm. – ''hoi kuahiwi'' ( Hawaii)
* ''Smilax menispermoidea'' A.DC.
* ''Smilax microchina'' T.Koyama
* ''Smilax microphylla'' C.H.Wright
* ''Smilax minarum'' A.DC.
* '' Smilax minutiflora'' A.DC.
* ''Smilax modesta'' A.DC.
* ''Smilax mollis'' Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.
* ''Smilax moranensis'' Mart. & Galeotti
* ''Smilax munita'' S.C.Chen
* ''Smilax muscosa'' Toledo
* ''Smilax myosotiflora'' A.DC.
* ''Smilax myrtillus'' A.DC.
* ''Smilax nageliana'' A.DC.
* ''Smilax nana'' F.T.Wang
* ''Smilax nantoensis'' T.Koyama
* '' Smilax neocaledonica'' Schltr
* ''Smilax nervomarginata'' Hayata
* '' Smilax nigrescens'' F.T.Wang & Tang
* '' Smilax nipponica'' Miq.
* '' Smilax nova-guineensis'' T.Koyama
* '' Smilax obliquata'' Duhamel
* ''Smilax oblongata'' Sw.
* ''Smilax ocreata'' DC.
* '' Smilax odoratissima'' Blume
* ''Smilax officinalis'' Kunth
* ''Smilax orbiculata'' Labill.
* '' Smilax ornata'' Lem.
* '' Smilax orthoptera'' A.DC.
* '' Smilax outanscianensis'' Pamp.
* ''Smilax ovalifolia'' Roxb.
* ''Smilax ovatolanceolata'' T.Koyama
* '' Smilax pachysandroides'' T.Koyama
* '' Smilax paniculata'' M.Martens & Galeotti
* ''Smilax papuana'' Lauterb.
* ''Smilax perfoliata'' Lour.
* '' Smilax petelotii'' T.Koyama
* ''Smilax pilcomayensis'' Guagl. & S.Gattuso
* ''Smilax pilosa'' Andreata & Leoni
* '' Smilax pinfaensis'' H.Lév. & Vaniot
* ''Smilax plurifurcata'' A.DC.
* ''Smilax poilanei'' Gagnep.
* ''Smilax polyacantha'' Wall. ex Kunth
* ''Smilax polycolea'' Warb.
* ''Smilax populnea'' Kunth
* ''Smilax pottingeri'' Prain
* '' Smilax pseudochina'' L. - false chinaroot
* ''Smilax pulverulenta'' Michx.
* ''Smilax pumila'' Walter
* ''Smilax purhampuy'' Ruiz
* '' Smilax purpurata'' G.Forst.
* ''Smilax pygmaea'' Merr.
* '' Smilax quadrata'' A.DC.
* ''Smilax quadrumbellata'' T.Koyama
* ''Smilax quinquenervia'' Vell.
* ''Smilax remotinervis'' Hand.-Mazz.
* ''Smilax retroflexa'' (F.T.Wang & Tang) S.C.Chen
* '' Smilax riparia'' A.DC.
* ''Smilax rotundifolia'' L. - common greenbrier (Eastern United States)
* '' Smilax rubromarginata'' K.Krause
* ''Smilax rufescens'' Griseb.
* ''Smilax ruiziana'' Kunth
* ''Smilax salicifolia'' Griseb.
* ''Smilax sanguinea'' Posada-Ar.
* '' Smilax santaremensis'' A.DC.
* ''Smilax saulensis'' J.D.Mitch.
* ''Smilax schomburgkiana'' Kunth
* ''Smilax scobinicaulis'' C.H.Wright
* '' Smilax sebeana'' Miq.
* ''Smilax setiramula'' F.T.Wang & Tang
* ''Smilax setosa'' Miq.
* ''Smilax sieboldii'' Miq.
* ''Smilax sinclairii'' T.Koyama
* ''Smilax siphilitica'' Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.
* '' Smilax solanifolia'' A.DC.
* '' Smilax spicata'' Vell.
* ''Smilax spinosa'' Mill.
* ''Smilax spissa'' Killip & C.V.Morton
* ''Smilax spruceana'' A.DC.
* ''Smilax stans'' Maxim.
* '' Smilax stenophylla'' A.DC.
* ''Smilax subinermis'' C.Presl
* ''Smilax subpubescens'' A.DC.
* '' Smilax subsessiliflora'' Poir.
* ''Smilax synandra'' Gagnep.
* ''Smilax talbotiana'' A.DC.
* ''Smilax tamnoides'' L. - halberd-leaved greenbrier
* ''Smilax tetraptera'' Schltr
* ''Smilax timorensis'' A.DC.
* ''Smilax tomentosa'' Kunth
* ''Smilax trachypoda'' J.B.Norton
* ''Smilax trinervula'' Miq.
* '' Smilax tsinchengshanensis'' F.T.Wang
* ''Smilax tuberculata'' C.Presl
* '' Smilax turbans'' F.T.Wang & Tang
* ''Smilax utilis'' C.H.Wright
* ''Smilax vaginata'' Decne.
* ''Smilax vanchingshanensis'' (F.T.Wang & Tang) F.T.Wang & Tang
* ''Smilax velutina'' Killip & C.V.Morton
* '' Smilax verrucosa'' Griseb.
* '' Smilax verticalis'' Gagnep.
* '' Smilax vitiensis'' (Seem.) A.DC.
* '' Smilax wallichii'' Kunth
* '' Smilax walteri'' Pursh.
* ''Smilax wightii'' A.DC.
* ''Smilax williamsii'' Merr.
* ''Smilax yunnanensis'' S.C.Chen
* ''Smilax zeylanica'' L.

Distribution and habitat

Pantropical, extending into adjacent temperate zones to north and south. 29 species are recognized in Central America and the Caribbean.

Ecology

The berry is rubbery in texture and has a large, spherical seed in the center. The fruit stays intact through winter, when birds and other animals eat them to survive. The seeds are passed unharmed in the animal's droppings. Since many ''Smilax'' colonies are single clones that have spread by rhizomes, both sexes may not be present at a site, in which case no fruit is formed.

''Smilax'' is a very damage-tolerant plant capable of growing back from its rhizomes after being cut down or burned down by fire. This, coupled with the fact that birds and other small animals spread the seeds over large areas, makes the plants very hard to get rid of. It grows best in moist woodlands with a soil pH between 5 and 6. The seeds have the greatest chance of germinating after being exposed to a freeze.

Besides their berries providing an important food for birds and other animals during the winter, greenbrier plants also provide shelter for many other animals. The thorny thickets can effectively protect small animals from larger predators who cannot enter the prickly tangle. Deer and other herbivorous mammals will eat the foliage, as will some invertebrates such as Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths), which also often drink nectar from the flowers. Beetles too are known to consume leaves.

Among the Lepidoptera utilizing ''Smilax'' are Hesperiidae like the water snow flat (''Tagiades litigiosa''), Pieridae like the small grass yellow (''Eurema smilax''), or moths like the peculiar and sometimes flightless genus ''Thyrocopa''. But particularly fond of greenbriers are certain Nymphalidae caterpillars, for example those of:
* '' Faunis'' – faun butterflies
* ''Kaniska canace'' – blue admiral (on China smilax, '' S. china'')
* ''Phalanta phalantha'' – common leopard (on '' S. tetragona'')

Uses

An extract from the roots of some species – most significantly Jamaican sarsaparilla (''S. ornata'') – is used to make the sarsaparilla drink and other root beers, as well as herbal drinks like the popular Baba Roots from Jamaica. Two species, ''S. domingensis'' and ''S. havanensis'', are used in a traditional soda-like Cuban beverage called pru. The roots may also be used in soups or stews. The young shoots can be eaten raw or cooked and are said to taste like asparagus, and the berries can be eaten both raw and cooked. Stuffed smilax pancake, or ''fúlíng jiābǐng'' (), is a traditional snack from the Beijing region. '' S. glabra'' is used in Chinese herbology. It is also a key ingredient in the Chinese medical dessert ''guīlínggāo'', which makes use of its property to set certain kinds of jelly.

The powdered roots of Jamaican sarsaparilla are known as ''Rad. Sarzae. Jam.'' in pharmacy and are used as a traditional medicine for gout in Latin American countries. '' Köhler's Medicinal Plants'' of 1887 discusses the American sarsaparilla ('' S. aristolochiifolia''), but as early as about 1569, in his treatise devoted to syphilis, the Persian scholar Imad al-Din Mahmud ibn Mas‘ud Shirazi gave a detailed evaluation of the medical properties of chinaroot.

Diosgenin, a steroidal sapogenin, is reported from '' S. menispermoidea''. Other active compounds reported from various greenbrier species are parillin (also sarsaparillin or smilacin), sarsapic acid, sarsapogenin and sarsaponin.

Due to the nectar-rich flowers, species like '' S. medica'' and '' S. officinalis'' are also useful honey plants.

The common floral decoration ''smilax'' is '' Asparagus asparagoides''.smilax
at yourdictionary.com

Gallery

File:Smilax bona-nox.jpg, Smilax bona-nox
File:Smilax aspera 1652.JPG, Smilax aspera
File:Smilax aspera (leaf).jpg, Smilax aspera
Image:Sarutoriibara 08b2113.jpg, China smilax ('' S. china''), unripe fruit
Image:Smilax herbacea.png, The " carrion flower", '' S. herbacea''
Image:Starr 020808-0053 Smilax melastomifolia.jpg, '' S. melastomifolia'', called ''hoi kuahiwi'' on Hawaii

Notes

References

Bibliography

*
*
* Mifsud, Stephen (2002): Wild Plants of Malta & Gozo �
Mediterranean Smilax
Retrieved October 2, 2008.

External links

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{{Taxonbar, from=Q165315

Smilacaceae
Liliales genera
Root vegetables
Stem vegetables
Dioecious plants

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