Smilax herbacea, the smooth carrionflower[2] or smooth herbaceous greenbrier, is a plant in the catbriar family. It is native to eastern Canada (Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick) and the eastern United States (as far south as Georgia and Alabama).[3][4] Its preferred natural habitat is rich forests, and riparian thicket and meadows.[5]
Smilax herbacea is a vine with alternate, simple leaves, on climbing stems. The flowers are green, borne in spring. The plant at first looks like asparagus when it first sprouts out of the ground. The plant can grow over 8 feet tall without support, but will eventually fall over unless it successfully finds external support.[5]
Flower in bud
Young sprout at 2' height
Line drawing showing floral details
flower prior to opening
The species can be used to prepare food in the same fashion as Smilax bona-nox and Smilax rotundifolia.[6]
In traditional Ainu medicine, applications of the softened leaves were used for healing eye infections, skin eruptions, and wounds.[7]
Smilax herbacea, the smooth carrionflower or smooth herbaceous greenbrier, is a plant in the catbriar family. It is native to eastern Canada (Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick) and the eastern United States (as far south as Georgia and Alabama). Its preferred natural habitat is rich forests, and riparian thicket and meadows.
