Smilax laurifolia

Linnaeus

Sp. Pl. 2: 1030. 1753.

Common names: Bamboo vine blaspheme vine laurel greenbrier
Synonyms: Smilax alba Pursh Smilax lanceolata Linnaeus
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 26. Treatment on page 475. Mentioned on page 470.

Vines forming extensive colonies; rhizomes irregularly branched, tuberous, woody. Stems perennial, climbing, branching, terete, 5+ m × 15 mm, woody, glaucous, glabrous; prickles dark, flat, to 12 mm, rigid. Leaves evergreen, ± evenly arranged; petiole 0.5–1.5 cm; blade abaxially green, drying to pale brown to brownish green, oblong-elliptic, lance-elliptic, or, sometimes, linear or broadly ovate, not prominently reticulate, 3-veined from base, 7–13 × 1.3–4(–6) cm, coriaceous, not glaucous, glabrous or minutely pubescent abaxially, base attenuate to rounded; margins entire, often revolute, teeth absent; apex acute to rounded, often mucronate. Umbels numerous, axillary to leaves, generally on short branches, 5–12(–25)-flowered, ± open, spherical; peduncle 0.5–1.5 cm, shorter than subtending leaf. Flowers: perianth yellow, cream, or white; tepals 4–5 mm; anthers exceeding filaments; ovule 1 per locule; pedicel 0.5-1 cm. Berries black, ovoid, 5–8 mm, shining, glaucous.


Phenology: Flowering Aug–Oct.
Habitat: Bays, bogs, pocosins, swamp margins, marshy banks

Distribution

V26 992-distribution-map.jpg

Ala., Ark., Del., Fla., Ga., La., Md., Miss., N.C., Okla., S.C., Tenn., Tex., Va., West Indies (Bahamas, Cuba).

Discussion

The stems of Smilax laurifolia are viciously armed.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Smilax laurifolia"
Walter C. Holmes +
Linnaeus +
Bamboo vine +, blaspheme vine +  and laurel greenbrier +
Ala. +, Ark. +, Del. +, Fla. +, Ga. +, La. +, Md. +, Miss. +, N.C. +, Okla. +, S.C. +, Tenn. +, Tex. +, Va. +, West Indies (Bahamas +  and Cuba). +
Bays, bogs, pocosins, swamp margins, marshy banks +
Flowering Aug–Oct. +
Smilax alba +  and Smilax lanceolata +
Smilax laurifolia +
species +