Smilax griffithii var. pallescens (A. de Candolle) T. Koyama; S. pallescens A. de Candolle.

Vines climbing, large. Stem and branches woody, smooth or somewhat scabrous, occasionally with sparse prickles. Petiole 2--5 cm, broadly winged for 1/3--2/5 its length; wings 4--13 mm wide; abscission zone distal; tendrils often developed. Leaf blade ovate-elliptic to ovate, 14--22 × 7--9.5 cm, leathery, main veins (5--)7. Inflorescence of 9--12 umbels, 7--9 cm, basally prophyllate; umbels of both sexes ± grouped in whorls of 2--4, 10--30-flowered, base thickened, ca. 3 mm in diam. Male flowers: tepals yellowish green, outer ones 4--4.5 × ca. 1 mm, inner ones ca. 4 × 0.6 mm; stamens subequaling tepals. Female flowers: tepals smaller than male ones. Fruit unknown.

Only a few sterile specimens have been collected. The description of the flowers follows Koyama (in Smitinand et al., Fl. Thailand 2: 226, 228. 1975).

Broad-leaved forests; 1700--1800 m. SE Xizang (Mêdog Xian) [India, Myanmar, Thailand].