Smilax ecirrata
in A. Gray et al., Manual ed. 6, 520. 1890.
Herbs. Stems annual, erect to leaning, with bladeless bracts proximally, leaves distally, 0.3–0.8 m, herbaceous; prickles absent. Leaves mostly distal (upper 1/2–2/3 of plant); petiole thin, shorter than blade; tendrils few and short or absent; blade thin, broadly elliptic-ovate to subrotund, 9–12 × 5–9 cm, pubescent and not glaucous abaxially, base cordate to truncate, margins entire, convex, apex round to acuminate. Umbels 1–3, proximalmost axillary to bracts below leaves, to 25-flowered, hemispherical to globose. Flowers: perianth green; tepals 3.5–4 mm; anthers ± equaling filaments; ovules (1–)2 per locule; pedicel 0.5–1.3 cm. Berries purplish black, globose, 9–11 mm, not glaucous. 2n = 52.
Phenology: Flowering May–Jun.
Habitat: Open woods and thickets
Elevation: 100–800 m
Distribution
Ont., Ark., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., Ky., Mich., Minn., Mo., Nebr., Ohio, Okla., S.Dak., Tenn., Wis.
Discussion
Smilax ecirrhata is similar to S. huberi and S. biltmoreana, both with fewer leaves of different shapes.
Selected References
None.