Smilacaceae FAMILY

Smilax tamnoides

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Smilax tamnoides is a climbing shrubby plant producing a cluster of branching, prickly stems from a short rhizomatous rootstock; the stems can be 7 metres or more long. The plant is deciduous in the north of its range, but the leaves become more or less persistent towards the south[ 270 Title Flora of N. America Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for lcal use as a food and a medicine. It is sometimes grown as an ornametal in gardens.

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeEastern and southeastern N. America - South Dakota to Massachusetts, south tp eastern Texas and Florida

HabitatWet to dry woods, thickets and bottomlands, mainly on the coastal plain, in sandy or, less often, silty clay soils; ar elevations up to 400 metres[ 43 Title Gray's Manual of Botany.Eighth Edition Publication Author Fernald. M. L. Publisher American Book Co.; New York Year 1950 ISBN 0442222505 Description A bit dated but a good and concise flora of the eastern part of N. America. , 270 Title Flora of N. America Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses. , 274 Title Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Publication Author Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Website http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm Publisher Botanical Research Institute, Texas. Year 1999 ISBN 1-889878-01-4 Description An excellent flora, which is also available on-line. ]. Rich, often calcareous, soils in woods, thickets and bottoms[ 43 Title Gray's Manual of Botany.Eighth Edition Publication Author Fernald. M. L. Publisher American Book Co.; New York Year 1950 ISBN 0442222505 Description A bit dated but a good and concise flora of the eastern part of N. America. ].