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 common smilax,^[2] rough bindweed,^[3] sarsaparille,^[4] and Mediterranean smilax, is a species of flowering vine in the greenbriar family.

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.^[5] The leaves are 8–10 centimetres (3.1–3.9 in) long,^[5] 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)^[5] and contain one to three tiny and round seeds. Insipid are unpalatable to humans and are a source of nourishment for many species of birds.

Distribution

It is widespread in Central Africa (Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Ethiopia), Mediterranean Europe (Albania, Croatia, Greece, Italy,Malta, France, Portugal, Spain), temperate Asia (Cyprus, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey) and tropical Asia (India, Bhutan, Nepal). It is also naturalized in other regions.^[6]

Habitat

It grows in the woods and scrubs, at an altitude of 0–1,200 metres (0–3,937 ft) above sea level.^[5]

Gallery

Thickets of Smilax aspera
Smilax aspera in bloom
Berries of Smilax aspera
Leaves of Smilax aspera
Smilax aspera - MHNT

References

↑ "The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species". Retrieved 6 August 2014.
↑ "BSBI List 2007". Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-02-25. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
↑ "Smilax aspera". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
↑ Altervista Flora Italiana, salsapariglia, sarsaparille, rough bindweed, Smilax aspera includes photos and European distribution map
1 2 3 4 Pignatti S. - Flora d'Italia – Edagricole – 1982. Vol. III, pag. 401
↑ "Smilax aspera L.". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 6 August 2014.

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External links

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