Smilax herbacea (Carrion Flower, Carrion-flower, Common Carrion-vine, Jacob's ladder, Smooth Carrion Flower) - 1 Photos - Smilax/herbacea/Smilacaceae - Plant Profile

Attributes

The fruit has been used to treat hoarseness. Dried and powdered leaves have been used as a dressing on burns. The wilted leaves have been used as a dressing on boils. The essence of the root has been used for back pains, stomach complaints, lung disorders, and kidney problems

Country Or Region Of Origin:

Eastern Canada and the US, south to Georgia and Alabama

Wildlife Value:

Berries are eaten by Ruffled Grouse, Wild Turkey, and various songbirds. Leaves are grazed by deer and rabbits. Flowers are pollinated by insects, notably carrion flies which lay eggs in the blossoms.

Edibility:

Leaves and young shoots are cooked and used like asparagus. The root can be dried, ground into a powder and then used with cereals for making bread. It can also be used as a gelatine substitute.

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Annual

Recommended Propagation Strategy:

Seed

Play Value:

Fragrance

Wildlife Food Source

Attracts Pollinators

Wildlife Nesting

Wildlife Cover/Habitat

Screening

Fire Risk Rating:

extreme flammability

Climbing Method:

Tendrils

Fruit

Fruit Description:

Individual dark blue berries are about ¼" across and contain about 3-5 seeds. In North Carolina, the fruits are available from August to October.

Fruit Type:

Berry

Fruit Color:

Black

Blue

Display/Harvest Time:

Summer

Fall

Fruit Length:

< 1 inch

Fruit Width:

< 1 inch

Flowers

Flower Description:

Individual umbels are about 1½–3" across, consisting of 20-120 flowers on slender pedicels; the umbels resemble a globe when fully developed. It is dioecious; the green to yellowish-green staminate flowers are each ¼" across, with of 6 tepals and 6 stamens with white anthers. The green to yellowish-green pistillate flowers are each ¼" across, with of 6 tepals and a pistil with 3 flattened stigmata. The unpleasant (putrid) smelling flowers attract insects and are pollinated by carrion flies. In North Carolina, the flowers are available from May to June.

Flower Color:

White

Gold/Yellow

Green

Flower Inflorescence:

Umbel

Flower Value To Gardener:

Showy

Flower Bloom Time:

Spring

Flower Petals:

6 petals/rays

Tepals

Flower Shape:

Radial

Flower Size:

1-3 inches

Leaves

Leaf Description:

Upper surfaces of the leaves are medium green and smooth, and lower surfaces are pale green. They are ovate-oval to broadly ovate-lanceolate with smooth margins and parallel-veined.

Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:

Semi-evergreen

Green

Simple

Alternate

Ovate

Oblong

Cordate