''Smilax'' is a genus of about 300–350

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

, found in the

tropics The tropics are the regions of Earth surrounding the Equator. They are defined in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere at N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere at S. The tropics are also referr ...

and

subtropic The subtropical zones or subtropics are geographical and climate zones to the north and south of the tropics. Geographically part of the temperate zones of both hemispheres, they cover the middle latitudes from to approximately 35° north and ...

s worldwide.Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
/ref> In China for example about 80 are found (39 of which are

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found else ...

), while there are 20 in North America north of

Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

. They are climbing

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

s, many of which are woody and/or thorny, in the

monocotyledon Monocotyledons (), commonly referred to as monocots, (Lilianae ''sensu'' Chase & Reveal) are grass and grass-like flowering plants (angiosperms), the seeds of which typically contain only one embryonic leaf, or cotyledon. They constitute one of ...

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Smilacaceae Smilacaceae, the greenbriers, is a family of flowering plants. While they were often assigned to a more broadly defined family Liliaceae, most recent botanists have accepted the two as distinct families, diverging around 55 million years ago dur ...

, 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

Jamaica Jamaica (; ) is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea. Spanning in area, it is the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean (after Cuba and Hispaniola). Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, and west of His ...

n '' 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 ''Crocus'' (; plural: crocuses or croci) is a genus of seasonal flowering plants in the family Iridaceae (iris family) comprising about 100 species of perennials growing from corms. They are low growing plants, whose flower stems remain under ...

and the

nymph A nymph ( grc, νύμφη, nýmphē, el, script=Latn, nímfi, label= Modern Greek; , ) in ancient Greek folklore is a minor female nature deity. Different from Greek goddesses, nymphs are generally regarded as personifications of nature, are ...

Smilax ''Smilax'' is a genus of about 300–350 species, found in the tropics and subtropics worldwide. 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 ...

. Though this myth has numerous forms, it always centers around the unfulfilled and tragic love of a

mortal Mortal means susceptible to death; the opposite of immortal. Mortal may also refer to: * Mortal (band), a Christian industrial band * The Mortal, Sakurai Atsushi's project band * ''Mortal'' (novel), a science fiction fantasy novel by Ted Dekker ...

man who is turned into

a flower ''A Flower'' is a song for voice and closed piano by John Cage. It was composed in 1950, for a choreography by Louise Lippold, wife of sculptor Richard Lippold. There is no text; the singer vocalises a small number of phonemes such as "uh", "wa ...

, 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 In the fields of horticulture and Botany, the term ''deciduous'' () means "falling off at maturity" and "tending to fall off", in reference to trees and shrubs that seasonally shed leaves, usually in the autumn; to the shedding of petals, ...

and

evergreen In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has foliage that remains green and functional through more than one growing season. This also pertains to plants that retain their foliage only in warm climates, and contrasts with deciduous plants, whic ...

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

flower A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Angiospermae). The biological function of a flower is to facilitate reproduction, usually by providing a mechani ...

s. If

pollination Pollination is the transfer of pollen from an anther of a plant to the stigma of a plant, later enabling fertilisation and the production of seeds, most often by an animal or by wind. Pollinating agents can be animals such as insects, birds, a ...

occurs, the plant will produce a bright red to blue-black spherical berry

fruit In botany, a fruit is the seed-bearing structure in flowering plants that is formed from the ovary after flowering. Fruits are the means by which flowering plants (also known as angiosperms) disseminate their seeds. Edible fruits in particu ...

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 Section, Sectioning or Sectioned may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media * Section (music), a complete, but not independent, musical idea * Section (typography), a subdivision, especially of a chapter, in books and documents ** Section sig ...

, but molecular phylogenetic studies reveals that these morphologically defined subdivisions are not monophyletic. Subdivision is best considered in terms of

clades A clade (), also known as a monophyletic group or natural group, is a group of organisms that are monophyletic – that is, composed of a common ancestor and all its lineal descendants – on a phylogenetic tree. Rather than the English term, ...

(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 A sister is a woman or a girl who shares one or more parents with another individual; a female sibling. The male counterpart is a brother. Although the term typically refers to a family, familial relationship, it is sometimes used endearingly to r ...

to all other species (clade A) and has a tri-continental

disjunction In logic, disjunction is a logical connective typically notated as \lor and read aloud as "or". For instance, the English language sentence "it is raining or it is snowing" can be represented in logic using the disjunctive formula R \lor S ...

. Section ''Smilax'' includes " woody", prickly

vine A vine (Latin ''vīnea'' "grapevine", "vineyard", from ''vīnum'' "wine") is any plant with a growth habit of trailing or scandent (that is, climbing) stems, lianas or runners. The word ''vine'' can also refer to such stems or runners themsel ...

s of temperate North America, for example cat greenbrier ('' S. glauca'') and common greenbrier ('' S. rotundifolia'').FNAEC (2002) Section ''Nemexia'' includes unarmed

herbaceous plant Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent wood, woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennial plant, perennials, and nearly all Annual plant, annuals and Biennial plant, biennials. Definition ...

s of temperate North America, for example "

carrion flower Carrion flowers, also known as corpse flowers or stinking flowers, are mimetic flowers that emit an odor that smells like rotting flesh. Apart from the scent, carrion flowers often display additional characteristics that contribute to the mimes ...

s" like the smooth herbaceous greenbrier ('' S. herbacea''). Section ''

Heterosmilax ''Heterosmilax'' was considered a genus of flowering plants in the family Smilacaceae. It was native to southern China and Southeast Asia. Subsequent molecular phylogenetic studies showed that it was embedded within another genus, ''Smilax'' and ...

'' 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 ''Smilax aculeatissima'' is a species of flowering plants known only from the State of Queensland in northeastern Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Aust ...

'' Conran * ''

Smilax amblyobasis ''Smilax'' is a genus of about 300–350 species, found in the tropics and subtropics worldwide. 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 ...

'' K.Krause * '' Smilax ampla'' Warb. ex K.Krause * ''

Smilax anceps ''Smilax anceps'' is a vigorous scrambling vine or shrub, and is one of some 278 species in the genus ''Smilax'' in the family Smilacaceae. The species is widespread in Tropical Africa, Southern Africa, Réunion, Mauritius, Comoros, and Madagas ...

Willd. Carl Ludwig Willdenow (22 August 1765 – 10 July 1812) was a German botanist, pharmacist, and plant taxonomist. He is considered one of the founders of phytogeography, the study of the geographic distribution of plants. Willdenow was al ...

* '' Smilax anguina'' K.Krause * '' Smilax annulata'' Warb. ex K.Krause * '' Smilax aquifolium'' Ferrufino & Greuter * '' Smilax arisanensis'' Hayata * '' Smilax aristolochiifolia''

Mill. Philip Miller FRS (1691 – 18 December 1771) was an English botanist and gardener of Scottish descent. Miller was chief gardener at the Chelsea Physic Garden for nearly 50 years from 1722, and wrote the highly popular ''The Gardeners Dictio ...

– American sarsaparilla * ''

Smilax aspera ''Smilax aspera'', with common names common smilax, rough bindweed, sarsaparille,Smilax aspericaulis ''Smilax'' is a genus of about 300–350 species, found in the tropics and subtropics worldwide. 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 ...

''Wall. ex A.DC. * '' Smilax assumptionis'' A.DC. * '' Smilax astrosperma'' F.T.Wang & Tang * ''

Smilax auriculata ''Smilax auriculata'' is a North American plant species native to the Bahamas, the Turks & Caicos Islands, and the southeastern United States. Common names include earleaf greenbrier and wild-bamboo, despite the fact that it is not closely rel ...

'' Walter * '' Smilax australis'' R.Br. – lawyer vine, barbwire vine, wait-a-while ( Australia) * ''

Smilax azorica ''Smilax azorica'' is a species of flowering plants of the Smilacaceae family. The species is endemic to the Azores. It was first described in 1844 as ''Smilax divaricata'', a name that had already been given to another species. It was renamed '' ...

'' 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 ''Smilax biltmoreana'', common name Biltmore's carrionflower, is a North American plant species native to the southeastern United States. It is concentrated in the Great Smoky Mountains but with outlying populations in Virginia, North and South ...

'' (Small) J.B.Norton ex Pennell * '' Smilax biumbellata'' T.Koyama * '' Smilax blumei'' A.DC. * '' Smilax bockii'' Warb. * ''

Smilax bona-nox ''Smilax bona-nox'', the saw greenbrier, is a species of plant in the family Smilacaceae. It is native to the Southern United States The Southern United States (sometimes Dixie, also referred to as the Southern States, the American South, t ...

'' L. – saw greenbrier * '' Smilax borneensis'' A.DC. * ''

Smilax bracteata ''Smilax'' is a genus of about 300–350 species, found in the tropics and subtropics worldwide. 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 ...

'' 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 ''Smilax'' is a genus of about 300–350 species, found in the tropics and subtropics worldwide. In China for example about 80 are found (39 of which are Endemism, endemic), while there are 20 in North America north of Mexico. They are climbing ...

'' 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 ''Smilax ecirrhata'', the upright carrionflower, is a species of flowering plant in the Greenbriar family. It is native to Ontario and to the central United States (Great Lakes Region and Mississippi/Ohio/ Missouri Valley). It is found in rich, ...

'' (Engelm. ex Kunth) S.Wats. * '' Smilax elastica'' Griseb. * '' Smilax elegans'' Wall. * ''

Smilax elegantissima ''Smilax'' is a genus of about 300–350 species, found in the tropics and subtropics worldwide. 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 ...

'' Gagnep. * '' Smilax elmeri'' Merr. * ''

Smilax elongatoumbellata ''Smilax'' is a genus of about 300–350 species, found in the tropics and subtropics worldwide. 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 ...

'' Hayata * '' Smilax emeiensis'' J.M.Xu * '' Smilax erecta'' Merr. * ''

Smilax excelsa ''Smilax'' is a genus of about 300–350 species, found in the tropics and subtropics worldwide. 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 ...

'' 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 ''Smilax glabra'', sarsaparilla, is a plant species in the genus ''Smilax''. It is native to flora of China, China, the Himalayas, and Indochina. ''S. glabra'' is a traditional Chinese medicine, traditional medicine in Chinese herbology, whence ...

'' Roxb. – chinaroot, ' () * '' Smilax glauca'' Walter – cat greenbrier, glaucous greenbrier * '' Smilax glaucochina'' Warb. * ''

Smilax glyciphylla ''Smilax glyciphylla'', the sweet sarsaparilla, is a dioecious climber native to eastern Australia. It is widespread in rainforest, sclerophyll forest and woodland; mainly in coastal regions. The leaves are distinctly three-veined with a glauco ...

Sm. __NOTOC__ Sir James Edward Smith (2 December 1759 – 17 March 1828) was an English botanist and founder of the Linnean Society. Early life and education Smith was born in Norwich in 1759, the son of a wealthy wool merchant. He displayed a ...

– sweet sarsaparilla, native sarsaparilla ( Australia) * '' Smilax goyazana'' A.DC. * '' Smilax gracilior'' Ferrufino & Greuter * '' Smilax griffithii'' A.DC. * ''

Smilax guianensis ''Smilax'' is a genus of about 300–350 species, found in the tropics and subtropics worldwide. 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 ...

'' Vitman * ''

Smilax guiyangensis ''Smilax'' is a genus of about 300–350 species, found in the tropics and subtropics worldwide. 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 ...

'' C.X.Fu & C.D.Shen * '' Smilax havanensis'' Jacq. * '' Smilax hayatae'' T.Koyama * '' Smilax hemsleyana'' Craib. * ''

Smilax herbacea ''Smilax herbacea'', the smooth carrionflower or smooth herbaceous greenbrier, is a plant in the catbriar family. It is native to eastern Canada (Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick) and the eastern United States (as far south as Georgia and Alabama ...

'' L. – smooth herbaceous greenbrier, carrion flower (southern

Quebec Quebec ( ; )According to the Canadian government, ''Québec'' (with the acute accent) is the official name in Canadian French and ''Quebec'' (without the accent) is the province's official name in Canadian English is one of the thirtee ...

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

Eastern United States The Eastern United States, commonly referred to as the American East, Eastern America, or simply the East, is the region of the United States to the east of the Mississippi River. In some cases the term may refer to a smaller area or the East C ...

) * '' Smilax hilariana'' A.DC. * '' Smilax horridiramula'' Hayata * ''

Smilax hugeri ''Smilax hugeri'', common name Huger's carrionflower, is a North American plant species native to the southeastern United States. It is found in Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, and North Carolina, North a ...

'' (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 ''Smilax'' is a genus of about 300–350 species, found in the tropics and subtropics worldwide. 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 flowe ...

'' Mart. ex Griseb. * ''

Smilax jamesii ''Smilax jamesii'' is a species of flowering plant in the greenbriar family known by the common name English Peak greenbriar. It is to northern California, where it is known from the Klamath Mountains and the southernmost peaks of the Cascade Ra ...

'' 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 ''Smilax'' is a genus of about 300–350 species, found in the tropics and subtropics worldwide. In China for example about 80 are found (39 of which are Endemism, endemic), while there are 20 in North America north of Mexico. They are climbing ...

'' A.DC. * '' Smilax kwangsiensis'' F.T.Wang & Tang * ''

Smilax lanceifolia ''Smilax'' is a genus of about 300–350 species, found in the tropics and subtropics worldwide. In China for example about 80 are found (39 of which are Endemism, endemic), while there are 20 in North America north of Mexico. They are climbing ...

'' Roxb. * ''

Smilax lappacea ''Smilax'' is a genus of about 300–350 species, found in the tropics and subtropics worldwide. 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 ...

'' Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd. * '' Smilax larvata'' Griseb. * ''

Smilax lasioneura ''Smilax lasioneura'', the Blue Ridge carrionflower, is a North American species of flowering plants in the greenbriar family. It is widespread across central Canada and the central United States, from Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan south to ...

'' 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 ''Smilax'' is a genus of about 300–350 species, found in the tropics and subtropics worldwide. In China for example about 80 are found (39 of which are Endemism, endemic), while there are 20 in North America north of Mexico. They are climbing ...

''Merr. * '' Smilax luei'' T.Koyama * ''

Smilax lunglingensis ''Smilax'' is a genus of about 300–350 species, found in the tropics and subtropics worldwide. 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 ...

'' F.T.Wang & Tang * ''

Smilax lushuiensis ''Smilax'' is a genus of about 300–350 species, found in the tropics and subtropics worldwide. In China for example about 80 are found (39 of which are Endemism, endemic), while there are 20 in North America north of Mexico. They are climbing ...

'' S.C.Chen * ''

Smilax lutescens ''Smilax'' is a genus of about 300–350 species, found in the tropics and subtropics worldwide. 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 ...

'' 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 ''Smilax'' is a genus of about 300–350 species, found in the tropics and subtropics worldwide. In China for example about 80 are found (39 of which are Endemism, endemic), while there are 20 in North America north of Mexico. They are climbing ...

'' Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd. * '' Smilax megacarpa'' A.DC. * '' Smilax megalantha'' C.H.Wright * '' Smilax melanocarpa'' Ridl. * '' Smilax melastomifolia'' Sm. – ''hoi kuahiwi'' (

Hawaii Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only state ...

) * '' Smilax menispermoidea'' A.DC. * '' Smilax microchina'' T.Koyama * '' Smilax microphylla'' C.H.Wright * '' Smilax minarum'' A.DC. * ''

Smilax minutiflora ''Smilax'' is a genus of about 300–350 species, found in the tropics and subtropics worldwide. In China for example about 80 are found (39 of which are Endemism, endemic), while there are 20 in North America north of Mexico. They are climbing ...

'' 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 ''Smilax'' is a genus of about 300–350 species, found in the tropics and subtropics worldwide. In China for example about 80 are found (39 of which are Endemism, endemic), while there are 20 in North America north of Mexico. They are climbing ...

'' F.T.Wang & Tang * ''

Smilax nipponica ''Smilax'' is a genus of about 300–350 species, found in the tropics and subtropics worldwide. 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 ...

'' Miq. * '' Smilax nova-guineensis'' T.Koyama * ''

Smilax obliquata ''Smilax'' is a genus of about 300–350 species, found in the tropics and subtropics worldwide. 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 ...

'' Duhamel * '' Smilax oblongata'' Sw. * '' Smilax ocreata'' DC. * ''

Smilax odoratissima ''Smilax'' is a genus of about 300–350 species, found in the tropics and subtropics worldwide. In China for example about 80 are found (39 of which are Endemism, endemic), while there are 20 in North America north of Mexico. They are climbing ...

'' 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 wildfire, 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. Ruritateha 07i1804

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 Tagiades litigiosa, water snow flat (''Tagiades litigiosa''), Pieridae like the Eurema smilax, 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, ''Smilax china, S. china'') * ''Phalanta phalantha'' – common leopard (on ''Smilax tetragona, S. tetragona'')

Uses

Smilax aristolochiifolia - Köhler–s Medizinal-Pflanzen-130

An extract from the roots of some species – most significantly Smilax ornata, 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

. 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. ''Smilax glabra, 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 Gelatin, 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 (''Smilax aristolochiifolia, 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 ''Smilax menispermoidea, 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 ''Smilax medica, S. medica'' and ''Smilax officinalis, 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 (''Smilax china, S. china''), unripe fruit Image:Smilax herbacea.png, The "

", '' S. herbacea'' Image:Starr 020808-0053 Smilax melastomifolia.jpg, ''Smilax melastomifolia, S. melastomifolia'', called ''hoi kuahiwi'' on

Notes

References

Bibliography

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

External links

* * {{Taxonbar, from=Q165315 Smilacaceae Liliales genera Root vegetables Stem vegetables Dioecious plants ne:कुकुरडाइनो