Smilacaceae
Greenbrier Or Catbrier Family
The Smilacaceae family (Greenbrier Or Catbrier Family) is a botanical family placed in the order Liliales. In the SASYA catalogue it spans 4 species. Its members are predominantly climbers. Several members are valued in traditional medicine. Familiar examples include Large-Leaf Smilax and Ceylon Smilax.
Browse all 4 species ↓
Heart-shaped or oval leaves with several curved main veins running from base to tip, on woody climbers gripping with a pair of tendrils sprouting from modified stipules at the leaf-stalk base; small flowers on separate male and female vines ripen into a berry.
Stems are frequently armed with sharp, straight or hooked prickles, and the paired tendrils growing from the leaf-stalk, not the stem, are a reliable field mark distinguishing it from most other climbers.
Which Smilacaceae species is this?
Answer what you can see and narrow it down to a single Smilacaceae species.
To check whether a plant belongs to Smilacaceae, compare the leaf arrangement, leaf type, flower symmetry, fruit type, and one distinctive marker together. A single feature can mislead; the family pattern is the combination.
Learn the full family-identification methodTypical leaf characters
- ArrangementAlternate
- TypeVariable
- MarginVariable
- VenationVariable
Characters typical of the family — individual species can vary.
Typical flower & fruit
- Flower symmetryVariable
- InflorescenceUmbel
- FruitBerry
Typical of the family — flowering plants only; species can vary.
Notable members
Families that can look similar
Liliaceae
Compare against Liliaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.
Compare LiliaceaeSolanaceae
Compare against Solanaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.
Compare SolanaceaeAnnonaceae
Compare against Annonaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.
Compare AnnonaceaeRutaceae
Compare against Rutaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.
Compare RutaceaeAll 4 species in SMILACACEAE
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