(Smooth Carrion flower). This is an annual vine that can climb to 7 feet tall. Tendrils form from the leaf axils, stems have no prickles. The leaves are alternate and can vary in shape but are usually oval with 7 to 9 parallel veins and taper to a pointed tip. Bases are truncate to heart-shaped. Leaf margins are generally smooth. The undersides are smooth. The inflorescence is a ball-like umbel that is about 1 and 1 /2" wide that forms at the end of a stalk that is much longer that the leaf stalks. Plants of the Smilax genus are dioecious, that is, male and female flowers are separate and on separate plants. The 6-part flowers are minute and have 6 greenish-yellow tepals. Male flowers have 5 or 7 stamens whose filaments are much longer than the anthers. Female flowers may have infertile stamens (staminoides). Flowers have a scent of death when open, hence the common name. Fruit: In Autumn a round fruit cluster is formed of 3/8" diameter blue-black berries that each contain 2 to 4 seeds.

Habitat: The plant grows from short, thick tubers. A plant of moist woods and for support it uses other plants or fence posts, etc. Names: The genus Smilax, is from the Greek, meaning 'clasping' as the tendrils indeed do. The species herbacea, is used to refer to species that are herbaceous, not woody. Comparisons: In close resemblance to this species is are the Greenbriars which are similar climbing vines of this genus and produce similar blue-black berries. Roundleaf Greenbriar, S. rotundifolia, has rounded leaves, and stem prickles and Bristly Greenbriar, S. tamnoides, has leaves more oval and the stems have bristly hair. In both Greenbriars, the flower umbel stalk is no longer than a leaf stalk.