Smilax pumila

Walter

Fl. Carol., 244. 1788.

Common names: Sarsaparilla vine
Endemic
Synonyms: Smilax humilis Miller Smilax pubera Michaux Smilax puberula Kunth
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 26. Treatment on page 476. Mentioned on page 470.

Subshrubs or vines; rhizomes black, knotted, 5–6 × 2 cm, often with white to pinkish stolons. Stems perennial, prostrate to clambering, branching, slender, to 1 m, ± woody, densely woolly-pubescent, usually prickly (especially at base). Leaves mostly evergreen, ± evenly disposed; petiole 0.05–0.25 cm, often longer on sterile shoots; blade gray-green, drying to ashy gray-green, obovate to ovatelanceolate, with 3 prominent veins, 6–10.5 × 5–8 cm, glabrous adaxially, densely puberulent abaxially, base cordate to deeply notched, margins entire, apex bluntly pointed. Umbels 1–7, axillary to leaves, 5–16-flowered, loose, spherical; peduncle 0.2–0.8 cm, shorter than to 1.5 as long as petiole of subtending leaf. Flowers: perianth yellowish; tepals 3–4 mm; anthers much shorter than filaments; ovule 1 per locule; pedicel thin, 0.1–0.4 cm. Berries red, ovoid, 5–8 mm, with acute beaks, not glaucous.


Phenology: Flowering Oct–Nov.
Habitat: Woods, along streams, sandy soil

Distribution

V26 995-distribution-map.jpg

Ala., Ark., Fla., Ga., La., Miss., S.C., Tex.

Discussion

The red, pointed fruits and densely pubescent herbage of Smilax pumila are distinctive. In Louisiana, the dried leaves are used to prepare a tea for upset stomach.

The name Smilax humilis Miller, which predates S. pumila by 20 years and recently has been determined to apply also to this species, has been proposed for rejection (J. L. Reveal 2000). If that proposal is not adopted, the correct name will be S. humilis.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Smilax pumila"
pointed +
Walter C. Holmes +
Walter +
cordate +  and deeply notched +
not glaucous +
0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br />) +
ashy gray-green +  and gray-green +
6 cm60 mm <br />0.06 m <br /> (10.5 cm105 mm <br />0.105 m <br />) +
puberulent +  and glabrous +
obovate +  and ovatelanceolate +
reduced +
5 cm50 mm <br />0.05 m <br /> (?) +  and 8 cm80 mm <br />0.08 m <br /> (?) +
Sarsaparilla vine +
Ala. +, Ark. +, Fla. +, Ga. +, La. +, Miss. +, S.C. +  and Tex. +
pistillate +  and staminate +
Woods, along streams, sandy soil +
pedunculate +  and umbellate +
evergreen +
leathery +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br />) +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br />) +
0.05 cm0.5 mm <br />5.0e-4 m <br /> (0.25 cm2.5 mm <br />0.0025 m <br />) +
Flowering Oct–Nov. +
Fl. Carol., +
stoloniferous +  and tuberous +
5 cm50 mm <br />0.05 m <br /> (6 cm60 mm <br />0.06 m <br />) +
2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br /> (?) +
filiform +
W1 +  and Endemic +
prickly +  and branching +
perennial +
prostrate +  and clambering +
woolly-pubescent +
slender +
0 cm0 mm <br />0 m <br /> (100 cm1,000 mm <br />1 m <br />) +
white;pinkish +
Smilax humilis +, Smilax pubera +  and Smilax puberula +
Smilax pumila +
species +
bronze +, yellow +  and greenish +
distinct +
ovate;elliptic +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br />) +
5-16-flowered +
spherical +
vine +  and subshrub +