papata

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Common Smilax
• rough-bindweed
• Rough Bindweed

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Smilax picta
• Smilax willkommii
• Smilax balearica
• Smilax aspera var. nigra
• Smilax aspera f. punctata
• Smilax aspera var. mauritanica
• Smilax aspera f. balearica
• Smilax aspera var. altissima
• Smilax mauritanica var. vespertilionis
• Smilax aspera var. punctata
• Smilax aspera subsp. nigra
• Smilax aspera subsp. mauritanica
• Smilax rettiana
• Smilax aspera var. mauritanica
• Smilax conferta
• Smilax aspera var. balearica
• Smilax catalonica
• Smilax aspera var. angustifolia
• Smilax goetzeana
• Smilax aspera var. ochrocarpa
• Smilax aspera var. perrottetiana
• Smilax maculata
• Smilax aspera var. maculata
• Smilax aspera subsp. balearica
• Smilax mauritanica subsp. vespertilionis
• Smilax mauritanica
• Smilax nigra
• Smilax aspera f. intermedia
• Smilax aspera var. picta
• Smilax pendulina
• Smilax variabilis
• Smilax platyphylla
• Smilax oxycarpa
• Smilax sagittata
• Smilax saxicola
• Smilax intricatissima
• Smilax tetragona

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Following its placement in the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Liliales, it is further categorized under the family Smilacaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Smilax.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution concentrated within the Mediterranean region of Southwestern Europe. It can be found growing across the diverse landscapes of France and Portugal. Additionally, its presence extends to several important islands located in the Mediterranean Sea. Specifically, it is documented in the Baleares, Corse, and Sardegna. This range highlights the plant's affinity for the unique coastal and island ecosystems of the southwestern European territory.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Smilax aspera is characterized by its distribution across a significant altitudinal gradient, allowing it to inhabit diverse montane environments. It is typically found at moderate elevations, with a mean elevational range centered around 1500 m AMSL. However, the species demonstrates considerable ecological plasticity, occupying habitats ranging from a minimum elevation of 1000 m AMSL to a maximum elevation of 3100 m AMSL. This broad vertical distribution suggests an ability to adapt to varying temperature regimes and atmospheric pressures associated with different mountain strata.

Elevational range max:

3100 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1000 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Smilax aspera is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist in its environment over multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated structures, specifically categorized as both a phanerophyte and a nanophanerophyte depending on the scale of its growth habit. The plant exhibits an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that its foliage remains functional and provides continuous coverage throughout its life stages.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Smilax aspera is characterized by a woody growth form that functions as a shrubby liana. As an obligatory climber, the plant exhibits a scandent shoot orientation, utilizing its structural properties to ascend toward light sources. It is a terrestrial species, growing independently without parasitic or epiphytic dependencies. The plant typically reaches a mean height of approximately 3 m, though individual heights can vary, with specific measurements recorded up to a maximum of 1 m in certain contexts, while the shoots can extend to a maximum length of 1000 cm.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

liana

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

other

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

3 m

Shoot length max:

1000 cm

Shoot orientation :

scandent

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Smilax aspera is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. Its vegetative growth is marked by specific leaf dimensions, with leaf lengths typically ranging from a minimum of 6 cm to a mean of 8.5 cm, reaching a maximum of 11 cm. The width of the leaves varies from a minimum of 5 cm to a maximum of 9.5 cm, contributing to the overall surface area available for light interception. Furthermore, this species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on external soil nutrient availability to support its physiological requirements and growth cycles.

Leaf length max:

11 cm

Leaf length mean:

8.5 cm

Leaf length min:

6 cm

Leaf width max:

9.5 cm

Leaf width min:

5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Smilax aspera is characterized by a dioecious sexual reproduction system, meaning that individual plants are either male or female, and self-fertilization is notably absent. The flowering process occurs via cyme inflorescences, which range in length from a minimum of 0.07 m to a maximum of 0.45 m. These flowers are white in color and rely on biotic pollination, specifically utilizing an insect pollination syndrome. Following successful pollination, the plant produces fleshy, indehiscent berries that turn black upon maturity. These fruits typically measure approximately 0.73 cm in both length and width (with ranges spanning from 0.6 cm to 0.73 cm) and contain a significant number of seeds, ranging from 101 to 1000 seeds per fruit. The seeds themselves vary in mass from a minimum of 0.01383 g to a maximum of 0.081 g, with a mean seed mass of 0.037912 g, and maintain a consistent volume of 22 mm³. Dispersal is achieved through a zoochorous syndrome, specifically endozoochorous, where animals consume the fruit and disperse the seeds. The reproductive cycle is timed with a flowering period that begins in August and extends through December.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Flower colour :

white

Flowering time :

Aug

Flowering time :

Dec

Fruit colour :

black

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length max:

0.6 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.73 cm

Fruit type :

berry

Fruit width max:

0.6 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.73 cm

Inflorescence :

cyme

Inflorescence length max:

0.45 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.07 m

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction sexual :

dioecious

Seed mass max:

0.081 g

Seed mass mean:

0.037912 g

Seed mass min:

0.01383 g

Seed volume max:

22 mm³

Seeds_per_fruit :

101-1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Activities

Smilax aspera has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Apoptotic.

Apoptotic

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Conditions

Smilax aspera has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Trichinella spiralis.

Trichinella spiralis

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Preparations

Smilax aspera has 2 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extracts, methanol extracts.

Extracts

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Methanol extracts

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)