Smilax laurifolia

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

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