Flora of the Southeastern United States

Smilax laurifolia Linnaeus. Common name: Blaspheme-vine, Bamboo-vine, Laurel-leaf Greenbriar. Phenology: Jul-Aug; Sep-Oct of the second year (and persisting). Habitat: Pocosins, swamp forests, wooded seeps and bogs, swamps, and other wetlands, often with groundwater influence. Distribution: Primarily a Southeastern Coastal Plain species, from NJ south to s. FL, west to w. TN, AR, and e. TX, but with substantial distribution inland in the "hard-rock" provinces; Bahamas and Cuba.

ID notes: This Smilax is especially vigorous and viciously armed, larger stems black and to over 1 cm in diameter, beset with stout prickles approaching 1 cm in length. The leaves are thicker than any of our other species.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, Bah, C, ETx1, F, FNA26, G, GW1, K4, NS, POWO, RAB, S, S13, Tat, Tn, Tx, Va, W, WH3, Bullard & Allen (2013), Coker (1944), Judd (1998). Basionym: Smilax laurifolia L. 1753

Links to other floras: = Smilax laurifolia - FNA26

Show in key(s)

Show parent genus | Show parent in key(s)

Wetland Indicator Status:

• Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACW
• Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: OBL
• Great Plains: OBL

Heliophily ⓘ: 6