Smilacaceae Vent.

J. R. Timberlake, E. S. Martins (2009). Flora Zambesiaca, Vol 12 (part 2). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Morphology General Habit

Climbing, creeping or scandent subshrubs or shrubs, somewhat robust, usually glabrous, rarely pubescent, often spiny, with a woody rhizome, usually dioecious

Morphology Leaves

Leaves usually alternate, less often opposite, simple, entire, petiolate; blade thin to leathery, palmately 3–7-curvinerved

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules modified to form 2 tendrils arising from a persistent leaf-sheath at base of petiole

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a peduncle of 1–many-flowered axillary or terminal umbels, simple or arranged in a raceme or spike

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers unisexual, 3-merous, actinomorphic, pedicellate; perianth segments (tepals) 6, free at base, rarely united, reflexed or not

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 3–6(15) in male flowers; filaments sometimes united into a column; anther 2-thecous, entire, basifixed

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Staminodes

Staminodes 1–6, filiform in female flowers

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary superior, sessile, 3-locular with axile placentation, 1–2 ovules per locule; stigma 3, recurved

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit a berry, globose to obovoid, 1–3- seeded

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds globose or flattened, smooth, with hard endosperm.

Distribution

A family with 4 genera, of which only milax occurs in tropical Africa.

Smilacaceae, E.J. Cowley. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1989

Morphology General Habit

Robust, climbing or pendent shrubs, usually dioecious, glabrous, rarely pubescent; roots arising from compact rhizome

Morphology Stem

Stems and branches often aculeate

Morphology Leaves

Leaves alternate or opposite, petiolate, thin or coriaceous, curvinerved, with 3-7 main nerves Modified stipules forming 2 caducous tendrils arising from distinct, persistent leaf-sheath at base of petiole

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence of few-many-flowered umbels; umbels solitary, or arranged in racemes or spikes

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers regular, unisexual; perianth-segments 6, free or rarely united Female flowers with 1-6 filiform staminodes; ovary superior, sessile, 3-locular; locules with 1-2 ovules; stigmas 3, recurved Male flowers with 3 or 6(-15) stamens; filaments sometimes united into a column; anthers introrse; pistillode absent

sex Male

Male flowers with 3 or 6(-15) stamens; filaments sometimes united into a column; anthers introrse; pistillode absent

sex Female

Female flowers with 1-6 filiform staminodes; ovary superior, sessile, 3-locular; locules with 1-2 ovules; stigmas 3, recurved

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit a 1-3-seeded, globose or broadly obovoid berry

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seed globose or lenticular; endosperm hard

Gemma Bramley, Anna Trias-Blasi & Richard Wilford (2023). The Kew Temperate Plant Families Identification Handbook. Kew Publishing Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Recognition

Characters of similar families: Araceae: inflorescence consists of a spathe and spadix. Dioscoreaceae: herbaceous climbers lacking tendrils, ovary inferior, fruits winged. Asparagaceae: lacking tendrils when climbing, highly variable but inflorescences often racemose, fruit often capsular. Vitaceae: tendrils and inflorescences leaf opposed, leaves often toothed. Menispermaceae: tendrils lacking, fruits with a strongly curved endocarp

Vegetative Multiplication

Underground parts rhizomatous

Morphology General Hair

Hairs present or absent

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules often present at each node or petiole base as a pair of narrow to inflated lobes bearing the tendrils

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers unisexual (plants dioecious), rarely bisexual, usually small, greenish to yellow, with 6 free or fused tepals, usually 6 stamens, rarely 3−18, anthers 1-locular; pistillate flowers with staminodes, ovary superior, 3-locular, 1−2 ovules per locule

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit a red, black or purple berry Fruit a berry.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 1−3

Morphology General Habit

Climbers, with paired tendrils inserted at each node or petiole base Climbers (less often herbs or shrubs), often armed with prickles or unarmed, climbing with tendrils (modified from the petiole base)

Morphology Leaves

Leaf short-petiolate, primary venation parallel with veins fusing at the tip Leaves alternate, opposite or verticillate, entire, usually coriaceous, prominently 3−7-veined with a midrib present, all main veins originating at blade base, parallel and joining at the tip, higher-order veins finely reticulate; petiole present

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence umbellate, unspecialised ‘monocot’ flowers, usually unisexual, ovary superior Inflorescences usually umbellate (rarely racemose or spicate), simple or compound, usually axillary

Distribution

Only one genus (Heterosmilax is now considered part of Smilax), with ca. 260 species. Smilax is mostly pantropical with fewer species in temperate areas; there are only two species in Africa (one in southern Africa).

Description Author

Anna Haigh & Paul Wilkin

George R. Proctor (2012). Flora of the Cayman Isands (Second Edition). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Morphology General Habit

Shrubs or commonly vines, the latter climbing with the aid of petiolar tendrils

Morphology Leaves

Leaves usually alternate and of leathery or hard texture, with 3 or more longitudinal nerves and reticulate venation between the nerves

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers usually dioecious, small, in axillary umbels, racemes or spikes

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth

Perianth regular, 6-parted, the lobes all similar. Stamens usually 6, with confluent anther-cells

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary superior, 3-celled; ovules 1 or 2 in each cell

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit a berry; seeds with hard endosperm and small embryo.

Milliken, W., Klitgard, B. and Baracat, A. (2009 onwards), Neotropikey - Interactive key and information resources for flowering plants of the Neotropics. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Morphology Stem

Stems rounded or sometimes quadrangular, armed with spines or unarmed, the surface smooth, scabrous, villose or setose

Morphology Branches

Base of branchlets provided with one or two scales on the adaxial side

Morphology General Habit

Herbs, semi-aquatic, annual, somewhat succulent, glabrous Vines, usually climbing by paired tendrils, or rarely erect herbs, often with thick, tuber -like rhizomes

Morphology Leaves

Leaves alternate simple; stipules absent Leaves simple, alternate, petiole usually geniculate, with sheath terminating in a pair of tendrils; blade broadly cordate to lanceolate, glabrous, smooth or ciliate, spiny or with unbranched hairs, with 3-9 subparallel primary  veins arising from or near the base (3 inner veins), the lower order of venation reticulate, the margin entire

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences dense, terminal, many-flowered spikes Inflorescences pedunculate, axillary, an umbela or panicle of umbels

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic; sepals 5, connate at the base, imbricate, persistent; corolla urceolate to campanulate, 5- lobed, lobes imbricate; stamens 5, attached to the base of the corolla tube, filaments very short, anthers dithecal, longitudinally dehiscent; ovary inferior or perigynous, 2-locular, style 1, short or lacking, stigma 1, capitate, placentation axile, ovules many Flowers unisexual (the plants dioecious); perianth segments 6, distinct, narrow, equal or nearly so; stamens 6, free, the anthers basifixed, 2-celled, dehiscing longitudinally; ovary superior, syncarpous, 1- or 3-locular, with 1 or 2 ovules in each locule, the placentation axile; stigmas 3, sessile, in female flowers 0-6 staminodes present

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruits membranous, circumscissile capsules Fruit a fleshy and globose berry, indehiscent, smooth, orange, yellow, or black when mature; seeds 1-3, arillate, less than 10 mm in size.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds many, minute, striate.

Note

Notes on delimitation: The circumscription of the Sphenocleaceae is based on molecular studies.  The family is currently placed in the order Solanales in the APG III system, most closely related to Hydroleaceae (formerly in Hydrophyllaceae) (Stevens, 2008; APG III, 2009). Cronquist (1981) and Takhtajan (2009) both placed the members of the family in the Campanulales. In the past it has also been placed near Phytolaccaceae by some authors. Number of genera: The family is represented in the Neotropics by the genus Smilax  L. only, comprising ca. 100 species. Smilacaceae has often been considered to be related to Dioscoreaceae, order Dioscoreales, but actually there is agreement among botanists that the family belongs in the Liliales. The family has also been included in the polyphyletic Liliaceae s.l. Since the publication of APG II (2003) it is accepted that Smilacaceae comprises two genera, Smilax and Heterosmilax Kunth, and ca. 300 species worldwide. However, some botanists have recently considered the family to comprise only Smilax with ca. 200 species. The family, and specially Smilax, is distributed in tropical, subtropical, and temperate areas of both hemispheres, with most species concentrated in the Neotropics and tropical Asia. In the Neotropics the rhizomes of most species of Smilax are used medicinally, but especially S. officinalis Kunth, S. longifolia Rich., S. siphilitica Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd., S. aristolochiifolia Mill., S. moranensis M.Martens & Galeotti and S. domingensis Spreng. ex A. DC.  The stems of some species such as S. tomentosa Kunth are used in basket-making. Notes on delimitation: The family Smilacaceae is placed by the APG II in the Liliales, together with four families which also occur in the Neotropics: Alstroemeriaceae, Corsiaceae, Liliaceae, and Melanthiaceae.

Distribution

The family occurs pantropically and consists of one genus, Sphenoclea Gaertn., with two species, one pantropical species (S. zeylanica Gaertn.) - widespread throughout the Neotropics in wet, disturbed places like rice plantations and irrigation channels. Sphenoclea is native to the Neotropics and the US. Smilax is native to the Neotropics. The family Smilacaceae is distributed throughout the Neotropics, occupying several habitats at elevations from 0 to 3,200 meters.

Diagnostic

Distinguishing characters (always present): More or less succulent herbs of damp or flooded habitats. Leaves alternate, simple. Inflorescences dense, many-flowered spikes, more or less resembling the inflorescences of Phytolaccaceae and Piperaceae. Fruits membranous, circumscissile capsules. Key differences from similar families: Convolvulaceae differ from Sphenocleaceae in mostly being twining, having free sepals, and by never having spicate inflorescences. Solanaceae differ from Sphenocleaceae in never having spikes, and mostly having berries, drupes, or septicidal capsules, instead of membranous, circumscissile capsules. Sphenocleaceae differ from Phytolaccaceae in:  the perianth consisting of both sepals and petals (Phytolacceae have only tepals); the inferior or perigynousovary (Phytolaccaeae have a superiorovary); the circumscissile capsule (Phytolaccaeae have a berry or a drupe). Climbing vines. Petiole geniculate. Key differences from similar families: Smilacaceae is similar to Dioscoreaceae in comprising vines with net-veined leaves. However, Smilacaceae has: Leaves with petiolar sheaths terminating in a pair of tendrils. Inflorescences an umbel or panicle of umbels. Fruit a berry with 1-3 seeds.  Whereas family Dioscoreaceae has: Leaves without petiolar sheaths nor tendrils. Inflorescences mostly spicate, racemose, or paniculate. Fruit a 3-winged loculicidal capsule. Smilax is easily recognized by: Reticulate leaf venation. Paired petiolar tendrils. Dioecious flowers. Inflorescences an umbel or panicle of umbels. Fruit a berry. Climbing habit. Distinguishing characters (always present): Leaves simple, alternate, with tendrils positioned at end of the petiolar sheaths. Leaf blade with 3-9 subparallel primary veins and reticulate secondary veins. Inflorescences axillary, an umbela or panicle of umbels. Flowers unisexual, dioecious. Perianth segments 6, distinct. Stamens 6, free. Fruit a fleshyberry with 1-3 seeds.

Smilacaceae, F.N. Hepper. Flora of West Tropical Africa 3:1. 1968

Morphology General Habit

Shrubs, climbing or straggling, often with tendril-like petioles and prickly stems and branches; roots from an often stout rhizome; stems leafy

Morphology Leaves

Leaves alternate or opposite, 3-nerved, reticulate-veiny between the nerves

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers dioecious or rarely bisexual, small, arranged in axillary umbels, racemes or spikes

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth

Perianth-segments 6, free or rarely united

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium

Stamens 6; filaments free or united; anthers apparently 1-locular by the confluence of the cells, introrse

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium

Ovary superior, 3-locular; ovules 1-2 in each loculus, pendulous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Sterile Parts

Staminodes present in the female flower

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit a berry

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 1-3; embryo small in hard endosperm

Use

The group has a number of medicinal uses, Smilax aristolochiifolia was traditionally an antisyphilitic, but is today a tonic and a flavouring for drinks.