''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 referred to ...

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 China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...

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 elsew ...

), 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 Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

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 In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ...

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 undergro ...

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 ty ...

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 immortality, immortal. Mortal may also refer to: * Mortal (band), a Christian industrial band * The Mortal, Sakurai Atsushi's project band * Mortal (novel), ''Mortal'' (novel), a science fiction ...

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, aft ...

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, which ...

species. The

leaves A leaf (plural, : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant plant stem, stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", wh ...

are heart shaped and vary from 4–30 cm long in different species. Greenbrier is

dioecious Dioecy (; ; adj. dioecious , ) is a characteristic of a species, meaning that it has distinct individual organisms (unisexual) that produce male or female gametes, either directly (in animals) or indirectly (in seed plants). Dioecious reproductio ...

. 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 ...

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

berry A berry is a small, pulpy, and often edible fruit. Typically, berries are juicy, rounded, brightly colored, sweet, sour or tart, and do not have a stone or pit, although many pips or seeds may be present. Common examples are strawberries, raspb ...

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 Molecular phylogenetics () is the branch of phylogeny that analyzes genetic, hereditary molecular differences, predominantly in DNA sequences, to gain information on an organism's evolutionary relationships. From these analyses, it is possible to ...

studies reveals that these morphologically defined subdivisions are not

monophyletic In cladistics for a group of organisms, monophyly is the condition of being a clade—that is, a group of taxa composed only of a common ancestor (or more precisely an ancestral population) and all of its lineal descendants. Monophyletic gro ...

. 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, t ...

(A–D), corresponding to

biogeography Biogeography is the study of the distribution of species and ecosystems in geographic space and through geological time. Organisms and biological communities often vary in a regular fashion along geographic gradients of latitude, elevation, ...

, 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 familial relationship, it is sometimes used endearingly to refer to ...

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 themselv ...

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 woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials. Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous" The fourth edition of t ...

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 mimesi ...

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 Dict ...

– 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 ''Smilax australis'' (lawyer vine, austral sarsaparilla, barbwire vine, or " wait-a-while") is a vine in the family Smilacaceae, endemic to Australia. It has prickly climbing stems that are up to 8 metres long with coiled tendrils that are u ...

'' R.Br. – lawyer vine, barbwire vine, wait-a-while (

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

) * ''

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 ''Smilax china'' is a vine, climbing plant species in the genus ''Smilax''. It is native to China, Korea, Taiwan, Japan (including Ryukyu Islands, Ryukyu and Bonin Islands), Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, and Assam. It also known as chi ...

'' 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 (

) * '' 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 ''Smilax laurifolia'' is a species of flowering plant in the Smilacaceae, greenbrier family known by the common names laurel greenbrier, laurelleaf greenbrier, bamboo vine, and blaspheme vine. It is native to the southeastern United States, where ...

'' 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 stat ...

) * '' 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 ''Smilax ornata'' is a perennial trailing vine with prickly stems that is native to Mexico and Central America. Common names include sarsaparilla, Honduran sarsaparilla, and Jamaican sarsaparilla. It is known in Spanish as ', which is derived ...

'' Lem. * '' Smilax orthoptera'' A.DC. * ''

Smilax outanscianensis ''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 ...

'' Pamp. * '' Smilax ovalifolia'' Roxb. * '' Smilax ovatolanceolata'' T.Koyama * '' Smilax pachysandroides'' T.Koyama * ''

Smilax paniculata ''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 ...

'' M.Martens & Galeotti * '' Smilax papuana'' Lauterb. * '' Smilax perfoliata'' Lour. * ''

Smilax petelotii ''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 ...

'' T.Koyama * '' Smilax pilcomayensis'' Guagl. & S.Gattuso * ''

Smilax pilosa ''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 ...

'' Andreata & Leoni * ''

Smilax pinfaensis ''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 ...

'' H.Lév. & Vaniot * '' Smilax plurifurcata'' A.DC. * '' Smilax poilanei'' Gagnep. * '' Smilax polyacantha'' Wall. ex Kunth * '' Smilax polycolea'' Warb. * '' Smilax populnea'' Kunth * ''

Smilax pottingeri ''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 ...

'' Prain * ''

Smilax pseudochina ''Smilax pseudochina'' is a perennial herb in the greenbriar family. It is commonly called bamboo vine or false chinaroot. Its range extends up the Atlantic Coast of the United States, from Long Island in New York State south to Georgia. Descr ...

'' L. - false chinaroot * '' Smilax pulverulenta'' Michx. * '' Smilax pumila'' Walter * '' Smilax purhampuy'' Ruiz * '' Smilax purpurata'' G.Forst. * '' Smilax pygmaea'' Merr. * ''

Smilax quadrata ''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 quadrumbellata'' T.Koyama * '' Smilax quinquenervia'' Vell. * '' Smilax remotinervis'' Hand.-Mazz. * '' Smilax retroflexa'' (F.T.Wang & Tang) S.C.Chen * ''

Smilax riparia ''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 rotundifolia ''Smilax rotundifolia'', also known as roundleaf greenbrier or common greenbrier, is a woody vine native to the southeastern and eastern United States and eastern Canada. It is a common and conspicuous part of the natural forest ecosystems in m ...

'' 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 ''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 ...

'' Miq. * ''

Smilax setiramula ''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 setosa'' Miq. * ''

Smilax sieboldii ''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 sinclairii'' T.Koyama * ''

Smilax siphilitica ''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 solanifolia ''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 spicata ''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 ...

'' 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 ''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 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 ''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 * '' 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 ''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 vitiensis'' (Seem.) A.DC. * '' Smilax wallichii'' Kunth * ''

Smilax walteri ''Smilax walteri,'' common names coral greenbrier, red-berried greenbrier or red-berried bamboo, is a North American species of plants found only in the United States. It is native to coastal plains in the south-central, southeastern, and east-ce ...

'' 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

bird Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, a high metabolic rate, a four-chambered heart, and a strong yet lightweigh ...

s 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

rhizome In botany and dendrology, a rhizome (; , ) is a modified subterranean plant stem that sends out roots and shoots from its nodes. Rhizomes are also called creeping rootstalks or just rootstalks. Rhizomes develop from axillary buds and grow hori ...

s, 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 Fire is the rapid oxidation of a material (the fuel) in the exothermic chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction Product (chemistry), products. At a certain point in the combustion reaction, called the ignition ...

. 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 Soil pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity (alkalinity) of a soil. Soil pH is a key characteristic that can be used to make informative analysis both qualitative and quantitatively regarding soil characteristics. pH is defined as the neg ...

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

predator Predation is a biological interaction where one organism, the predator, kills and eats another organism, its prey. It is one of a family of common feeding behaviours that includes parasitism and micropredation (which usually do not kill th ...

s who cannot enter the prickly tangle.

Deer Deer or true deer are hoofed ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. The two main groups of deer are the Cervinae, including the muntjac, the elk (wapiti), the red deer, and the fallow deer; and the Capreolinae, including the reindeer ...

and other

herbivorous A herbivore is an animal anatomically and physiologically adapted to eating plant material, for example foliage or marine algae, for the main component of its diet. As a result of their plant diet, herbivorous animals typically have mouthpart ...

mammal Mammals () are a group of vertebrate animals constituting the class Mammalia (), characterized by the presence of mammary glands which in females produce milk for feeding (nursing) their young, a neocortex (a region of the brain), fur or ...

s will eat the foliage, as will some

invertebrate Invertebrates are a paraphyletic group of animals that neither possess nor develop a vertebral column (commonly known as a ''backbone'' or ''spine''), derived from the notochord. This is a grouping including all animals apart from the chordate ...

s such as

Lepidoptera Lepidoptera ( ) is an order (biology), order of insects that includes butterfly, butterflies and moths (both are called lepidopterans). About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera are described, in 126 Family (biology), families and 46 Taxonomic r ...

(

butterflies Butterflies are insects in the macrolepidopteran clade Rhopalocera from the Order (biology), order Lepidoptera, which also includes moths. Adult butterflies have large, often brightly coloured wings, and conspicuous, fluttering flight. The ...

and

moth Moths are a paraphyletic group of insects that includes all members of the order Lepidoptera that are not butterflies, with moths making up the vast majority of the order. There are thought to be approximately 160,000 species of moth, many of w ...

s), which also often drink

nectar Nectar is a sugar-rich liquid produced by plants in glands called nectaries or nectarines, either within the flowers with which it attracts pollinating animals, or by extrafloral nectaries, which provide a nutrient source to animal mutualists ...

from the flowers. Beetles too are known to consume leaves. Among the Lepidoptera utilizing ''Smilax'' are

Hesperiidae Skippers are a family of the Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies) named the Hesperiidae. Being diurnal, they are generally called butterflies. They were previously placed in a separate superfamily, Hesperioidea; however, the most recent taxonomy ...

like the water snow flat (''Tagiades litigiosa''),

Pieridae The Pieridae are a large family of butterflies with about 76 genera containing about 1,100 species, mostly from tropical Africa and tropical Asia with some varieties in the more northern regions of North America and Eurasia.DeVries P. J. in Levi ...

like the small grass yellow (''Eurema smilax''), or moths like the peculiar and sometimes

flightless Flightless birds are birds that through evolution lost the ability to fly. There are over 60 extant species, including the well known ratites (ostriches, emu, cassowaries, rheas, and kiwi) and penguins. The smallest flightless bird is the ...

genus ''

Thyrocopa ''Thyrocopa'' is a genus of moths in the family Xyloryctidae endemic to Hawaii. The taxon has approximately forty species, including some flightless species.

''. But particularly fond of greenbriers are certain

Nymphalidae The Nymphalidae are the largest family of butterflies, with more than 6,000 species distributed throughout most of the world. Belonging to the superfamily Papilionoidea, they are usually medium-sized to large butterflies. Most species have a red ...

caterpillars, for example those of: * ''

Faunis ''Faunis'' is a genus of Asian butterflies in the family Nymphalidae. They are among the butterflies commonly known as fauns. They are relatively small-sized amathusiins, subtly colored in soft browns and violets, and range from China to the Phi ...

'' – faun butterflies * ''Kaniska canace'' – blue admiral (on China smilax, '' S. china'') * ''Phalanta phalantha'' – common leopard (on '' S. tetragona'')

Uses

Smilax aristolochiifolia - Köhler–s Medizinal-Pflanzen-130

An extract from the roots of some species – most significantly Jamaican sarsaparilla (''S. ornata'') – is used to make the sarsaparilla drink and other

root beer Root beer is a sweet North American soft drink traditionally made using the root bark of the sassafras tree ''Sassafras albidum'' or the vine of ''Smilax ornata'' (known as sarsaparilla, also used to make a soft drink, Sarsaparilla (soft drink ...

s, as well as herbal drinks like the popular

Baba Roots Baba Roots is a herbal drink popular among young people in Jamaica. The drink was founded by entrepreneur William Webb. The manufacturer sponsors events featuring dancehall music, and several Deejay (Jamaican), deejays have promoted the drink. It is ...

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 Asparagus, or garden asparagus, folk name sparrow grass, scientific name ''Asparagus officinalis'', is a perennial flowering plant species in the genus ''Asparagus''. Its young shoots are used as a spring vegetable. It was once classified in ...

, and the berries can be eaten both raw and cooked. Stuffed smilax pancake, or '' fúlíng jiābǐng'' (), is a traditional snack from the

Beijing } Beijing ( ; ; ), alternatively romanized as Peking ( ), is the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is the center of power and development of the country. Beijing is the world's most populous national capital city, with over 21 ...

region. '' S. glabra'' is used in

Chinese herbology Chinese herbology () is the theory of traditional Chinese herbal therapy, which accounts for the majority of treatments in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). A ''Nature'' editorial described TCM as "fraught with pseudoscience", and said that t ...

. 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 Pharmacy is the science and practice of discovering, producing, preparing, dispensing, reviewing and monitoring medications, aiming to ensure the safe, effective, and affordable use of medicines. It is a miscellaneous science as it links heal ...

and are used as a traditional medicine for

gout Gout ( ) is a form of inflammatory arthritis characterized by recurrent attacks of a red, tender, hot and swollen joint, caused by deposition of monosodium urate monohydrate crystals. Pain typically comes on rapidly, reaching maximal intensit ...

Latin America Latin America or * french: Amérique Latine, link=no * ht, Amerik Latin, link=no * pt, América Latina, link=no, name=a, sometimes referred to as LatAm is a large cultural region in the Americas where Romance languages — languages derived f ...

n countries. ''

Köhler's Medicinal Plants ''Köhler's Medicinal Plants'' (or, ''Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen'') is a German herbal written principally by Hermann Adolph Köhler (1834 - 1879, physician and chemist), and edited after his death by Gustav Pabst. The work was first published ...

'' of 1887 discusses the American sarsaparilla ('' S. aristolochiifolia''), but as early as about 1569, in his treatise devoted to

syphilis Syphilis () is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium ''Treponema pallidum'' subspecies ''pallidum''. The signs and symptoms of syphilis vary depending in which of the four stages it presents (primary, secondary, latent, an ...

, the

Persia Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...

n scholar Imad al-Din Mahmud ibn Mas‘ud Shirazi gave a detailed evaluation of the medical properties of chinaroot.

Diosgenin Diosgenin, a phytosteroid sapogenin, is the product of hydrolysis by acids, strong bases, or enzymes of saponins, extracted from the tubers of ''Dioscorea'' wild yam species, such as the Kokoro. The sugar-free (aglycone) product of such hydrolys ...

, a

steroid A steroid is a biologically active organic compound with four rings arranged in a specific molecular configuration. Steroids have two principal biological functions: as important components of cell membranes that alter membrane fluidity; and a ...

sapogenin Sapogenins are the aglycones, or non-saccharide, portions of the family of natural products known as saponins. Sapogenins contain steroid or other triterpene frameworks as their key organic feature. For example, steroidal sapogenins such as tigge ...

, 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 plant Honeybees usually collect nectar, pollen, or both from the following species of plants, which are called honey plants, for making honey. Acanthaceae (Acanthus family) *'' Avicennia nitida'' Jacq. or Avicennia ger ...

s. The common floral decoration ''smilax'' is ''

Asparagus asparagoides ''Asparagus asparagoides'', commonly known as bridal creeper, bridal-veil creeper, ''gnarboola'', smilax or smilax asparagus, is a herbaceous climbing plant of the family Asparagaceae native to eastern and southern Africa. Sometimes grown as an ...

''.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 "

", '' S. herbacea'' Image:Starr 020808-0053 Smilax melastomifolia.jpg, '' 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