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Smilax glabra - Roxb.

Common Name

Family

Smilacaceae

Synonyms

Known Hazards

None known

Habitats

Thickets in uplands, W. China[109, 147]. Forests, thickets, thinly forested slopes along valleys, river banks at elevations of 300 - 1800 metres[266].

Range

E. Asia - China to the Himalayas.

Edibility Rating

Medicinal Rating

Care

Summary

Physical Characteristics

A decidious Climber growing to 3 m (9ft 10in). It is in flower from Jul to November, and the seeds ripen from Nov to April. The flowers are dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required)The plant is not self-fertile.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils.The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils..It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade.It requires moist soil.

Habitats
Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Shady Edge;

Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Fruit; Root. Root - cooked[105, 177]. It can be dried and ground into a powder. The root contains nearly 70% starch[218]. Fruit[177]. The fruit is up to 10mm in diameter[266]. No more details are given.

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

Antiarthritic; Antiscrophulatic; Cancer; Skin; Stomachic; VD.

The aerial tubers are used in the treatment of abscesses, boils, cystitis, diarrhoea etc[218]. The rhizome is antiarthritic, antiscrophulatic, depurative, skin, stomachic[147, 174, 176]. It has been used in the treatment of cancer, mercury poisoning, acute bacterial dysentery, rheumatoid arthritis and syphilis[147, 174, 176, 218, 238]. It is said to be clinically 90% effective in the treatment of primary syphilis[218].

Other Uses
None known

Cultivation details
We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in many parts of the country. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Succeeds in most soils in sun or semi-shade[200]. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

Propagation

Seed - sow March in a warm greenhouse[1]. This note probably refers to the tropical members of the genus, seeds of plants from cooler areas seem to require a period of cold stratification, some species taking 2 or more years to germinate[K]. We sow the seed of temperate species in a cold frame as soon as we receive it, and would sow the seed as soon as it is ripe if we could obtain it then[K]. When the seedlings eventually germinate, prick them out into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first year, though we normally grow them on in pots for 2 years. Plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer. Division in early spring as new growth begins[238]. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer. Cuttings of half-ripe shoots, July in a frame[238].

Expert comment

Author
Roxb.

Botanical References
109266

Links / References

[K] Ken Fern Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[1]F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956

Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[105]Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World.

The most comprehensive guide to edible plants I've come across. Only the briefest entry for each species, though, and some of the entries are more than a little dubious. Not for the casual reader.

[109]Wilson. E. H. Plantae Wilsonae.

Details of the palnts collected by the plant collector E. H. Wilson on his travels in China. Gives some habitats. Not for the casual reader.

[147]? A Barefoot Doctors Manual.

A very readable herbal from China, combining some modern methods with traditional chinese methods.

[174]Kariyone. T. Atlas of Medicinal Plants.

A good Japanese herbal.

[176]Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas.

An excellent Chinese herbal giving information on over 500 species. Rather technical and probably best suited to the more accomplished user of herbs.

[177]Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption.

An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of latin names with a brief list of edible parts.

[200]Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.

Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[218]Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China

Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject.

[238]Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.

A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.

[266] Flora of China

On-line version of the Flora - an excellent resource giving basic info on habitat and some uses.

Readers comment

Elizabeth H.
willy j shah	Tue Jan 11 17:52:02 2005

i want all references about this plant and i also want herbarium of this plant as iam currently doing my msc by research in the specific plant .i need this plant as early aas possible .

Elizabeth H.
Koushik Majumdar	Mon Apr 27 2009

Most recently I find its new distribution in course of my research. I am going to study its ecology and ethno boatical usage.

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Subject : Smilax glabra

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