OF THE CAROLINAS & GEORGIA

Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Monocots: Liliales

WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Smilax walteri   FAMILY Smilacaceae   Go to FSUS key



SYNONYMOUS WITH PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Smilax walteri   FAMILY Smilacaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH Flora of North America

Smilax walteri

SYNONYMOUS WITH VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 041-02-008:

Smilax walteri   FAMILY Liliaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH The woody Smilaxes of the United States (Coker, 1944)

Smilax walteri

SYNONYMOUS WITH Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933, 1938)

Smilax walteri

 

COMMON NAME:
Coral Greenbrier, Red-berried Swamp Smilax


         To see larger pictures, click or hover over the thumbnails.

image of Smilax walteri, Coral Greenbrier, Red-berried Swamp Smilax

USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913    pnd_smwa_001_lvd

        

image of Smilax walteri, Coral Greenbrier, Red-berried Swamp Smilax

USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA Wetland flora: Field office illustrated guide    pnd_smwa_005_lvd

        

image of Smilax walteri, Coral Greenbrier, Red-berried Swamp Smilax

Alan S. Weakley    asw_1192704605014315

January        

image of Smilax walteri, Coral Greenbrier, Red-berried Swamp Smilax

Alan S. Weakley    asw_880411316712687

January        

image of Smilax walteri, Coral Greenbrier, Red-berried Swamp Smilax

Will Stuart    wil_8373861597_4c27264e4d

January    Chesterfield County    SC

Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge

Often tightly wound around Titi or Nyssa biflora at pond edges. — Will Stuart

image of Smilax walteri, Coral Greenbrier, Red-berried Swamp Smilax

JK Marlow    jkm160416_310

April    Lowndes County    GA

image of Smilax walteri, Coral Greenbrier, Red-berried Swamp Smilax

JK Marlow    jkm160416_313

April    Lowndes County    GA

Perianth brownish-yellow (vs. perianth green in S. smallii), per Weakley's Flora (2020).

image of Smilax walteri, Coral Greenbrier, Red-berried Swamp Smilax

JK Marlow    jkm150519_088

May    Calhoun County    SC

Congaree Bluffs Heritage Preserve

image of Smilax walteri, Coral Greenbrier, Red-berried Swamp Smilax

JK Marlow    jkm141023_229

October    Greenville County    SC

Swamp Rabbit Trail

Leaves often with a red mid-vein and petiole; berries bright red, per Weakley's Flora (2022).

image of Smilax walteri, Coral Greenbrier, Red-berried Swamp Smilax

JK Marlow    jkm141025_265268

October    Greenville County    SC

Swamp Rabbit Trail

Leaves of S. walteri almost always rounded at the base, whereas those of S. smallii are cuneate, per Weakley's Flora (2022).

image of Smilax walteri, Coral Greenbrier, Red-berried Swamp Smilax

JK Marlow    jkm141025_271

October    Greenville County    SC

Swamp Rabbit Trail

Its relatively narrow leaves can resemble S. smallii, but are thicker textured, per Weakley's Flora (2022).

image of Smilax walteri, Coral Greenbrier, Red-berried Swamp Smilax

JK Marlow    jkm141025_279

October    Greenville County    SC

Swamp Rabbit Trail

The only totally deciduous greenbrier in SC, per Guide to the Wildflowers of SC, 1st ed. (Porcher & Rayner, 2001).

image of Smilax walteri, Coral Greenbrier, Red-berried Swamp Smilax

JK Marlow    jkm141025_292

October    Greenville County    SC

Swamp Rabbit Trail

Contrary to the books, these particular berries each had only one or two seeds.

 

 

WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Smilax walteri   FAMILY Smilacaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Smilax walteri   FAMILY Smilacaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH Flora of North America
Smilax walteri

SYNONYMOUS WITH VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 041-02-008:
Smilax walteri   FAMILY Liliaceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH The woody Smilaxes of the United States (Coker, 1944)
Smilax walteri

SYNONYMOUS WITH Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933, 1938)
Smilax walteri

 

Find by SCIENTIFIC NAME:

1406

Woody vine
Perennial
Dioecious

Habitat: swamp forests, bogs, wooded seeps, often where submersed for at least part of the year, per Weakley's Flora

Native to the Carolinas & Georgia

Common in Coastal Plain (rare in Piedmont)

map
CLICK HERE to see a map, notes, and images from Weakley's Flora of the Southeastern US.

IS THE PLANT "ARMED"?
Stems usually sparsely armed with broadbased prickles

LEAVES:
Deciduous
Simple
Alternate

FLOWER:
Spring
Yellowish/Brownish
Radially symmetrical
6 tepals
6 stamens in staminate flowers
Superior ovary
Unisexual

Flowers in axillary umbels

FRUIT:
Summer/Fall
Red
Berry

 

TO LEARN MORE about this plant, look it up in a good book!



 


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