Smilax bockii Warb.

Vines climbing. Stem woody. Petiole 1--3 cm, narrowly winged for 1/4--1/3 its length; tendrils well developed. Leaf blade ovate-lanceolate to subcordate, (3--)6--22 × 2.5--12 cm. Inflorescence borne in axil of leaf or scalelike bract; peduncle 1--3 cm; umbels of both sexes 20--50-flowered, base 2--4 mm in diam.; pedicels 2--7(--11) mm. Male flowers: perianth oblong or narrowly obovoid, 3.5--4.5(--6) × 2--3 mm; stamens (2 or)3(or 4); filaments connate for 1/3--2/5 length, forming a column; anthers oblong, 0.5--1 mm. Female flowers: perianth subglobose or ovoid-globose, 2.5--3 × 1.5--2 mm; stigmas erect; staminodes 3(--6). Berries black, 6--10 mm in diam. Fl. Jun--Aug, fr. Jul--Nov.

Nepal, Bhutan, NE India, Myanmar, Thailand, Indo-China, S. China, Taiwan and S. Japan

Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Hunan, Jiangxi, S Shaanxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Bhutan, NE India, Japan].

150 m

In forest at riverside

Densely forested slopes, mixed forests on hillsides, thickets; 500--1800 m.

Heterosmilax arisanensis Hayata; H. indica A. de Candolle; H. raishaensis Hayata; H. tsaii F. T. Wang & T. Tang; Smilax bockii Warburg; S. planipedunculata Hayata; S. stemonifolia H. Léveillé & Vaniot.