Smilax lanceifolia in Flora of China @ efloras.org

52. Smilax lanceifolia Roxburgh, Fl. Ind. ed. 1832. 3: 792. 1832.

马甲菝葜 ma jia ba qia

Vines climbing. Stem branched, terete, 1--2 m, woody; branchlets occasionally zigzagged. Petiole 1--2(--2.5) cm, narrowly winged for 1/5--1/4 its length; abscission zone at middle; tendrils usually present. Leaf blade lanceolate to ovate-oblong, 6--17 × 2--8 cm. Inflorescence of 1(or 2) umbels, basally prophyllate; peduncle 1--1.5 cm, proximally articulate; umbels of both sexes densely 20--30-flowered, base slightly thickened. Male flowers: tepals yellowish green, 3--4.5 × ca. 1 mm; stamens 3--4 mm. Female flowers: tepals 1.5--2 × ca. 0.6 mm; staminodes 6. Berries yellowish red to black, globose, 6--7 mm in diam. Fl. Sep--Mar, fr. Oct--Nov.

Forests, forest margins, thickets, shaded places on slopes; 100--2800 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Bhutan, Cambodia, NE India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Sikkim, Thailand, Vietnam].

This species is very difficult to treat taxonomically due to the extreme polymorphism of the included entities.

1 Main veins obviously concave on adaxial leaf surface 52e var. impressinervia

+ Main veins raised on adaxial leaf surface (sometimes midvein slightly concave). (2)

2 (1) Leaf blade usually ovate or ovate-lanceolate, usually 1--3 × as long as wide. (3)

+ Leaf blade lanceolate to narrowly oblong-lanceolate, usually 5--7 × as long as wide. (4)

3 (2) Leaf blade usually papery, adaxially not or slightly shiny; peduncle usually shorter than petiole 52a var. lanceifolia

+ Leaf blade usually leathery, adaxially shiny; peduncle usually longer than petiole 52b var. opaca

4 (2) Branchlets ± zigzagged; peduncle longer than petiole; tepals yellowish green 52c var. elongata

+ Branchlets not zigzagged; peduncle shorter than or subequaling petiole; tepals purple 52d var. lanceolata