Habit: Perennial herb; caudex generally large, tuber-like.
Stem: climbing or trailing, woody below or not, often prickly +- throughout.
Leaf: alternate, deciduous or persistent; base rounded to sagittate; petiole tendrils generally 2.
Inflorescence: umbels or clusters, axillary.
Flower: perianth parts white to +- green or +- yellow; ovary chambers generally 3, stigmas spreading.
Fruit: black, purple, blue, or red (white).
Seed: 1--6, black.
Species In Genus: +- 350 species: especially tropics, also temperate North America, eastern Asia.
Etymology: (Greek: origin uncertain)
Jepson eFlora Author: Dale W. McNeal
Reference: Cameron & Fu 2006 Aliso 22:598--605
Unabridged Reference: Cameron, K. M. & C. Fu. 2006. A nuclear rDNA phylogeny of Smilax (Smilacaceae). Aliso 22:598--605Index of California Plant Names (ICPN; linked via the Jepson Online Interchange)Key to Smilax
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