Description:

• Scandent, glabrous, dioecious shrubs (rarely erect) with many tough, perennial prickly stems from a compact rhizome with many roots
• Leaves alternate, on short petioles, with a pair of spiral tendrils near base of petiole (an extension of leaf sheath); blade with 3-5 strong nerves and reticulate venation between main veins, firm
• Flowers regular, hypogynous, unisexual, small, in axillary umbels or terminal compound inflorescences
• Tepals 3 + 3, free, petaloid
• Male flowers with 6 (-15) free stamens; anthers basifixed, thecae confluent, appearing unithecate; ovary 0
• Female flowers with 6 filiform staminodes; ovary superior, 3-locular, with 1 or 2 axile ovules; style 0 or short; stigmas 3
• Fruit a berry
• Seeds 1-3, globose or semiglobose
• x = 16 (13, 15, 17) (high polyploidy)

Nomenclature:

• Smilacaceae
  • Dahlgren et al.: 127 (1985)
  • Obermeyer: 85 (1992)

Distribution & Notes:

• Global: Genera 4; species ± 375, throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world and in a few temperate areas
• Southern Africa: Genus 1, species 1

References:

• DAHLGREN, R.M.T., CLIFFORD, H.T. & YEO, P.F. 1985. The families of the monocotyledons. Springer-Verlag, Berlin
• OBERMEYER, A.A. 1992. Flora of southern Africa 5,3

Resources:

• Smilacaceae genus: Smilax