Sarsaparilla, correhuela

Vines , to 3 m or more; rhizomes to 1.4 cm diam. Stems with appressed pubescence. Leaves: petiole to 1.8 cm. Leaf blade generally linear, lanceolate-oblong, oblong, or ovate-oblong, to 8.5 × 6 cm, ± leathery, base sometimes lobed, apex obtuse to rounded and often retuse, mucronate; surfaces glabrous, abaxially slightly pale; venation 3-5. Inflorescences to 7 cm; bracteoles and rachis glabrous or pubescent with short-appressed hairs, sometimes glaucous. Flowers: perianth parts glabrous, often glaucous; sepals in 3 series, outer sepals 0-3, ovate, 0.4-0.8 × 0.3-0.4 mm, middle 3 sepals ovate to elliptic or obovate, 0.6-1.6 × 0.4-1 mm, inner 3 sepals elliptic to nearly orbiculate, 1.2-2.2 × 1.2-1.8 mm; petals 6, usually yellowish, elliptic to obovate, 0.8-1.6 × 0.6-1 mm, glabrous. Staminate flowers: stamens 6, to 1.8 mm; pistillodes absent. Pistillate flowers: staminodes to 0.4 mm; pistils to 1.4 mm. Drupes black or bluish black, 4-6 mm diam., often glaucous.

Flowering spring-fall. Brushlands, prairies, palm groves, fencerows, along resecas and canyons; 0-1400 m; Ariz., Tex.; Mexico.