566 D10ECIA HEXAXDRIA 



Suffrufi'ost, or herbaceous : often climbing ; loaves alternate, cirrhnsc-stipular 

 or the petiule producing a tendril on each side near the base ; flowers in axillary 

 pedunculate umbels. Aat. Ord. 2*1*J. Litidl. Smilack^:. 



| Stem suffruticose, prickly. 



1. 8. botundifolia, L. Stem subtcretc ; loaves orbicular-ovate, acu- 

 minate, sub-cordate at base ; common peduncles scarcely longer than 

 the petioles. Beck, Bot. p. 356. 



Rousd-lbayed Smilax. Vulgo — Green Brier. Rough Bind-weed. 



Plant smooth, yellowish-green. Stem 10 to 20 or 30, and sometimes 50, feet Ion?, 

 slender, mostly terete, flexuosc, somewhat branched, armed with straight rigid 

 sharp prickles, and climbing by tendrils. Leaves 2 to 3 inches long, and often as 

 wide as Ion?, orbicular-ovate, with a short acumination, generally a little cordau 

 at base, entire, 5-nerved, paler and somewhat glaucous l>eneath ; jntioles 1 third 

 to 3 fourths of an inch long, striate and margined at base, and giving out a simpU 

 iliform but strong tendril on each side, at the summit of the margin. Flower* 

 yellowish-green, in small globoso axillary umbels,— the common peduncle scarcely 

 longer than the petioles. Dearies dark blue, or bluish-black, with a glaucous 

 bloom when mature. 

 Mab. Moist thickets, and woodlands : frequent. Fl. June. Ft. October. 



Obs. This rugged shrubby vine is often abundant in moist grounds, forming 

 impenetrable tkickets,— and is a great annoyance to the woodmen, wheu employed 

 in eh'aring out such places. 



2. S. caduca, L. Stem somewhat angular ; leaves ovate, mucronate, 

 •r sub-acuminate ; common peduncles longer than the petioles. Beck, 

 Bot. p. 356. 



Caducous Smilax. Vulgo — Green Brier. 



Plant smooth, yellowish-green, often tinged with purple. Stem 3 or 4 to 8 or 10 

 feet long, slender, terete, or often a little angular, flexuosc, simple, or branched, 

 sab-procumbent, leaning, or supporting itself by tendrils. Leuves 2 to 2 and a 

 half inches long, and an inch ami half to 2 inches wide, ovate, mucronate, or with 

 a flight acumination, entire, 5-nerved, subglaucous beneath, and often with a 

 purplish tinge ; petioles about half an inch long, striate, margined at base, with a 

 tendril on each side at the summit of the margin. Floxcers yellowish-green, in 

 small axillary umbels,— the common peduncle generally about twice as long as the 

 petioles. Berries bluish-black when mature. 

 ifab. Thickets, neglected fields, &c. frequent. Fl. May-June. fV. October. 



Ob$. This is nearly allied to the preceding. It is often abundant in sterile ne- 

 glected old fields, on the Mica-slate hills. 



•j- | Stem herbaceous, unarmed. 



3. S. ht.rbacea, L. Stem angular, simple, erect, or nodding ; leave* 

 oblong-cordate, or ovate, acuminate, pubescent beneath ; common pe- 

 duncles of the pistillate umbels longer than the leaves. Beck, Bot. 

 p. 357. 



M*o>? S. pulverulenta. Mx. Am. 2. p. 238. 



8. peduncular*. Bigel. Bost. p. 368. Also? Willd. Sp. 4. p. 786. 

 Pen. Stjn. 2. p. 620. Ait. Kev>. 5. p. 391. Muhl. Catal. p. 92. 

 Pursh, Am. 1. p. 251. JVt/ff. Gen. 2. p. 238. Bart. Phil. 2. p. 195. 



