Smilax china L.

Vines climbing. Stem branched, terete, 1--5 m, woody, sparsely prickly. Petiole 0.5--1.5 cm, narrowly winged for 1/2--2/3 its length; abscission zone just above winged portion; tendrils usually present. Leaf blade elliptic to orbicular, 3--10 × 1.5--6(--10) cm. Inflorescence borne in axil of young leaf, of 1 umbel, basally not prophyllate; peduncle 1--2 cm; umbels of both sexes 10--25-flowered, subglobose, base subglobose, 2--3 mm in diam.; bracteoles many, small. Male flowers: tepals yellowish green, 3.5--4.5 × 1.5--2.5 mm; stamens 3--4 mm; filaments filiform. Female flowers: staminodes 6. Berries red, globose, 0.6--1.5 cm in diam., minutely white powdery. Fl. Feb--May, fr. Sep--Nov. 2 n = 30*, 90*.

Shrub thickets in hills and mountains. Forests, thickets, hillsides, grassy slopes, shaded places along valleys or streams; at elevations from near sea level to 2,000 metres.

The young leaves are eaten with oil and salt. They are also boiled as a vegetable. The leaves are also used to make a tea drink. The fruit are eaten to quench thirst. The roots are eaten. The are boiled and made into stock.

Can be grown by cuttings, divisions or seedlings.