Smilax walteri

Vines; rhizomes slender, running. Stems perennial, climbing to clambering, branching, slender, 2–6 m, woody, glabrous; prickles scattered, subulate. Leaves deciduous to semievergreen; petiole 0.5–1 cm; blade abaxially green, drying to lightly orange-tinted brown, ovate-oblong, to ovate-lanceolate, with 3 prominent veins, thin, 6–10 × 3–7 cm, glabrous or minutely pubescent abaxially, not glaucous, base rounded, subcordate, or, sometimes, cuneate at petiole insertion, margins entire, apex acute, mucronate. Umbels few to many, axillary to leaves, few-flowered, loose, hemispherical; peduncle 0.5–2 cm, generally shorter than petiole of subtending leaf. Flowers: perianth brownish yellow; tepals 3–6 mm; ovule 1 per locule; pedicel 0.5–1 cm. Berries bright red to orange, globose, 7–9 mm, shining.

Phenology: Flowering Apr–Jun.
Habitat: Wet thickets, low pinelands, swamps, boggy areas
Elevation: 0–350 m

Distribution

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• Legacy Map

Ala., Ark., Del., Fla., Ga., La., Md., Miss., N.C., S.C., Tex., Va.

Discussion

The brightly colored fruits make Smilax walteri conspicuous in the winter.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.