168 HOW TO KNOW WILD FRUITS 



from the leaf axils. The flesh is thin and 

 incloses from one to three large seeds. Sep- 

 tember. 



Leaves. — The oval leaves vary in width. 

 They are conspicuously whitened beneath. The 

 apex is rather obtuse but ends in a sharp point. 

 The petioles are rather short and bear tendrils 

 near their bases. The leaves are somewhat 

 persistent. 



Floivers. — The small greenish yellow flowers 

 are dioecious. There are from six to twelve 

 blossoms in the flower umbel, which is borne on 

 a flattened stem. 



This woody vine sometimes bears scattered 

 prickles, sometimes none. The stem is circular. 

 It grows in thickets from Massachusetts to 

 Florida and extends west to Texas, Missouri, 

 and Indiana. 



GREENBRIER. CATBRIER. HORSEBRIER 



Smilax rotundifolia Smilaz Family 



Fruit. — The globular blue-black berries are 

 covered with a bloom. They grow in umbels 

 on a flattened stem, which seldom exceeds in 



