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 sieboldii Miq.

Modern name

Smilax sieboldii Miq.

A deciduous or semi-evergreen species, the stems round or somewhat ribbed, and more or less armed with slender prickles; branches distinctly angular. Leaves ovate with a heart-shaped base and a long fine point, five-or seven-nerved, margins minutely jagged; green both sides, 112 to 3 in. long, two-thirds as wide. Flowers in small umbels of four to seven blossoms, green; main flower-stalk 12 to 58 in. long. Berries black, 14 in. wide, often in threes.

Native of Japan, Korea, China and Formosa; introduced in 1908, perhaps before. It is a little known species in gardens, very distinct from S. china, which also occurs in Japan, in the smaller, black fruits, fewer flowered umbels, and triangular-ovate leaves.


Genus

Smilax

Other species in the genus