''Smilax aspera'', with

common name In biology, a common name of a taxon or organism (also known as a vernacular name, English name, colloquial name, country name, popular name, or farmer's name) is a name that is based on the normal language of everyday life; and is often con ...

s common smilax, rough bindweed, sarsaparille,Altervista Flora Italiana, salsapariglia, sarsaparille, rough bindweed, ''Smilax aspera''
includes photos and European distribution map and Mediterranean smilax, is a species of

flowering Flowers, also known as blooms and blossoms, are the reproductive structures of flowering plants ( angiosperms). Typically, they are structured in four circular levels, called whorls, around the end of a stalk. These whorls include: calyx, m ...

vine A vine is any plant with a growth habit of trailing or scandent (that is, climbing) stems, lianas, or runners. The word ''vine'' can also refer to such stems or runners themselves, for instance, when used in wicker work.Jackson; Benjamin; Da ...

in the greenbriar family.

Description

''Smilax aspera'' is a

perennial In horticulture, the term perennial ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the year") is used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. It has thus been defined as a plant that lives more than 2 years. The term is also ...

, evergreen climber with a flexible and delicate stem, with sharp thorns. The climbing stem is long.Pignatti S. - Flora d'Italia – Edagricole – 1982. Vol. III, pag. 401 The leaves are long, petiolated, alternate, tough, leathery, and heart-shaped, with toothed and spiny margins. It is a

monocot Monocotyledons (), commonly referred to as monocots, (Lilianae ''sensu'' Chase & Reveal) are flowering plants whose seeds contain only one Embryo#Plant embryos, embryonic leaf, or cotyledon. A monocot taxon has been in use for several decades, but ...

with reticulate venation. The midrib of the underside of the leaf is also provided with spines. The flowers, very fragrant, are small, yellowish or greenish, gathered in axillary

raceme A raceme () or racemoid is an unbranched, indeterminate growth, indeterminate type of inflorescence bearing flowers having short floral stalks along the shoots that bear the flowers. The oldest flowers grow close to the base and new flowers are ...

s. 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 turning black. They have a diameter of and contain one to three tiny and round seeds. They are insipid and unpalatable to humans, but they are a source of nourishment for many species of birds.

Distribution

This species is widespread in Central

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(Democratic Republic of Congo,

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), Mediterranean

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(

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, Montenegro,

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), temperate

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(

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) and tropical

(

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). It is also naturalized in other regions.

Habitat

It grows in woods and scrub at an altitude of above sea level.

Gallery

File:Smilax aspera 20080607 164356 Bizkaia 43p3541N 2p9984W.jpg, Thickets of ''Smilax aspera'' File:Smilax aspera flowers.jpg, ''Smilax aspera'' in bloom File:Smilacaceae - Smilax aspera - Salsapariglia.JPG, Berries of ''Smilax aspera'' File:Smilacaceae - Smilax aspera.JPG, Leaves of ''Smilax aspera'' File:Smilax aspera MHNT.BOT.2008.1.1.jpg, Smilax aspera - MHNT

References

External links