Smilacaceae

Ventenat
Common names: Catbrier Family
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 26. Treatment on page 468. Mentioned on page 12, 13, 14, 17, 20.

Shrubs, herbs, or vines, perennial, rhizomatous. Stems erect or climbing, usually prickly, sometimes unarmed. Leaves opposite or alternate, prominently 3-veined, reticulate between veins, usually bearing tendrils, usually leathery. Inflorescences umbellate [or racemose or spicate]. Flowers unisexual, staminate and pistillate on different plants; tepals 6, distinct, rarely united into perianth-tube; stamens 2–3-whorled, anthers 1-locular; pistillate flowers bearing staminodes, pistil 3-carpellate; ovary 2-locular, 1–2 ovules per locule. Fruits baccate. Seeds 1–3.

Distribution

Worldwide, mainly tropical to subtropical, a few temperate

Discussion

Genera 4(–12), species ca. 375 (1 genus, 20 species in the flora).

The leaves of Smilacaceae are atypical of monocotyledons in being reticulate between major veins. The family is closely related to and sometimes included in Liliaceae. It differs mainly in leaf characteristics and in being dioecious.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa