A modern reference to temperate woody plants, including updated content from this site and much new material, can be found at Trees and Shrubs Online.

Smilax walteri Pursh

Modern name

Smilax walteri Pursh

A deciduous climber, with angled stems, armed only near the base; branches squarish, unarmed. Leaves ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 2 to 412 in. long, 34 to 212 in. wide, broadly wedge-shaped to slightly heart-shaped at the base, ending in a short fine point, five- or seven-nerved, glabrous and green on both sides; stalk 14 to 12 in. long. Flowers greenish, in short and flat-stalked umbels. Berries bright coral-red, globose, 13 in. wide.

Native of the eastern United States from New Jersey southwards; introduced early in the 19th century; rarely seen now. It is akin to S. rotundifolia, but has narrower, proportionately longer leaves, and is not so vigorous a grower. Also in S. rotundifolia the fruits are black.


Genus

Smilax

Other species in the genus