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Smilax Linn., Sp.Pl. 1028. 1753. Gen.Pl.ed.5.455.1754; Boiss., Fl.Or.5:342.1884; Hook.f., Fl.Brit.Ind. 6:302.1892; Knorring in Kom., Fl.URSS.4:474.1935; Koyama in Quart. Journ. Taiwan Mus.13: 1-61.1960.
Mostly climbing, occasionally erect, shrubs and undershrubs; often prickly. Leaves alternate, usually entire, 3-5-nerved; nerves convergent, veins reticulate. Flowers small, dioecious, bracteolate or not. Perianth segments 6, in 2 series, free. Male flower: stamens 6, anthers didymous, pistillodes absent. Female flower: staminodes 3 or 6, stigmas sessile, recurved. Fruit 3-locular. Seeds ellipsoid.
A genus of c. 350 species. Represented here by 3 native and 1 cultivated species.
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| 1 |
Small erect shrub or undershrub; not a climber.
Tendrils absent. Female flowers solitary |
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Smilax vaginata |
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Climbing shrubs. Tendrils present. Female flowers not solitary |
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(2) |
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| 2 (1) |
Umbels 2-3 on a common peduncle. Staminodes 3. Perianth recurved in mature flowers. Leaves
cuspidate |
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Smilax macrophylla |
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Umbels solitary or in racemes. Staminodes 6 Perianth spreading. Leaves obtuse, acute or mucronate |
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(3) |
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| 3 (2) |
Umbels in racemes. Flowers white. Staminal filaments c. 3 mm long. Stems prickly |
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Smilax aspera |
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Umbels solitary. Flowers purple. Staminal filaments subsessile. Stems smooth |
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Smilax glaucophylla |
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Lower Taxa
Related Synonym(s):
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Treatments in Other Floras @ www.efloras.org
Other Databases
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