Smilax australis R.Br.

Sarsaparilla

Mostly prickly climber. Leaves with blades ovate to broadly elliptic, 5-15 cm long, 3-10 cm wide, leathery, 5-veined with prominent netted veins; stalk twisted, tendrils coiling and to 20 cm long. Flower cluster stalks 1.5-2.5 cm long; spring to early summer. Flower segments creamy green, sometimes reddish in bud. Fruit a berry 6-10 mm wide containing 1-2 shiny black seeds.

S. glyciphylla Sm., Sweet Sarsaparilla (Native Sarsaparilla), from NT, Qld and NSW is also occasionally sold.

NT, Qld, NSW, Vic, Lord Howe Island.

Source: Conran, J. (2005). Smilacaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.

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Distribution map
kingdom Plantae
phylum   Tracheophyta
class    Magnoliopsida
superorder     Lilianae
order      Liliales
family       Smilacaceae
genus        Smilax L.