Smilax ferox Wall. ex Kunth

Vines climbing. Stem branched, terete, woody, usually sparsely prickly. Petiole 4--7(--13) mm, winged for 2/3 to nearly all its length; wings 1.5--2.5 mm wide; abscission zone distal; tendrils only occasionally developed on old stem or branches. Leaf blade abaxially often glaucous, oblong to oblong-lanceolate, 3.5--9(--12) × 1.5--3.5(--6) cm, papery to leathery. Inflorescence borne in axil of young leaf, of 1 umbel, basally not prophyllate; peduncle 1--1.6(--2.5) cm; umbels of both sexes 4--11-flowered, usually ± racemose due to elongate base, base thickened, 2--5 × 1--2 mm. Male flowers: tepals pale yellow, 3--4.5 × 1.5--2 mm; filaments 1.5--2 mm. Female flowers: tepals slightly smaller than male ones; staminodes 6. Berries red, globose, 8--10 mm in diam. Fl. Apr--May, fr. Oct--Dec. 2 n = 104.

It is a subtropical plant. In Nepal it grows between 1100-2700 m altitude. It grows in forests and shrubby areas. In China it grows in southern provinces between 1000-2900 m altitude.

The young shoots and leaves are cooked as a vegetable. The ripe fruit are eaten fresh.

Plants are grown from seed.