About Smilax auriculata Walter
Smilax auriculata, also commonly called earleaf greenbrier and wild-bamboo, is a North American perennial vine that is not closely related to bamboo. It is native to the Bahamas, the Turks & Caicos Islands, and the southeastern United States, where it has been recorded in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. This species grows at elevations below 100 m (333 feet), found on coastal sand dunes and in sunny spots within sandy woodlands. Smilax auriculata produces underground rhizomes, and sometimes tubers. It is a climbing plant with zigzag branching that can reach up to 9 m (30 feet) in height. Its stems bear flattened, rigid prickles that are approximately 4 mm (0.16 inches) long. The leaves are evergreen, narrowly ovate, non-waxy, and grow up to 8.5 cm (3.4 inches) long. Its green flowers form umbels containing 3 to 8 flowers each. The fruits are dark purple, nearly black berries that measure around 6 mm (0.24 inches) in diameter.
