Smilacaceae FAMILY

Smilax smallii

Edibility

3/5

Medicinal

0/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Smilax smallii is an evergreen, climbing shrub producing a cluster of scantily prickly stems from tuberous rhizomes; the stems are usually more than 10 metres long[ 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 was a major food crop for the Native Americans and the early European settlers. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental and is used as a winter decoration, especially at Christmas[ 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. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeSoutheastern N. America - southeastern Oklahoma to Delaware, south to eastern Texas and Florida

HabitatRich woods, pinewoods, streambanks, edges of fields, swamp margins, ditches, well-drained but not dry soils; at elevations up to 600 metres[ 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. ].