Smilax aspera

Smilax aspera

Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
Order:	Liliales
Family:	Smilacaceae
Genus:	Smilax
Species:	S. aspera
Binomial name
*Smilax aspera* L.
Synonyms^[1]
List Smilax balearica (Willk. ex A.DC.) Burnat & Barbey Smilax brevipes Jord. nom. illeg. Smilax capitata Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don nom. inval. Smilax catalonica Poir. Smilax conferta Jord. Smilax excelsa Duhamel nom. inval. Smilax goetzeana Engl. Smilax inermis Jord. nom. illeg. Smilax intricatissima Jord. Smilax longipes Gand. Smilax maculata Roxb. Smilax maculata Roxb. ex D.Don Smilax mauritanica Desf. nom. illeg. Smilax mauritanica Poir. Smilax mauritanica Webb & Berthel. nom. illeg. Smilax nigra Willd. Smilax nilagirensis Steud. ex A.DC. nom. inval. Smilax oxycarpa Jord. Smilax peduncularis Jord. nom. illeg. Smilax pendulina Lowe Smilax picta K.Koch Smilax platyphylla Jord. Smilax rettiana Willis ex Livera Smilax rigida Sol. ex Sm. Smilax sagittata Desv. ex Ham. Smilax sagittifolia Lodd. Smilax saxicola Gand. Smilax tetragona L.f. Smilax variabilis Pers. Smilax willkommii Gand.

Smilax aspera, with common names rough bindweed,^[2] common smilax,^[2] and sarsaparille, is a species of flowering vine in the greenbriar family, Smilacaceae.

Description

Smilax aspera is a perennial, evergreen climber with a flexible and delicate stem, with sharp thorns. The climbing stem is 1–4 metres (3 ft 3 in–13 ft 1 in) long.^[3] The leaves are 8–10 centimetres (3.1–3.9 in) long,^[3] petiolated, alternate, tough and leathery, heart-shaped, with toothed and spiny margins. Also the midrib of the underside of the leaves are provided with spines. The flowers, very fragrant, are small, yellowish or greenish, gathered in axillary racemes. The flowering period in Mediterranean regions extends from September to November. The fruits are globose berries, gathered in clusters, which ripen in Autumn. They are initially red, later turn black. They have a diameter of 8–10 millimetres (0.31–0.39 in)^[3] and contain one to three tiny and round seeds. Insipid and unpalatable to humans, they are a source of nourishment for many species of birds.