Da guo ba qia
Smilax megacarpa

Family: Smilacaceae

What it is like

A climbing vine. It usually does not have prickles. The stem is branched. It is 10 m long and woody. The leaf stalk is 1.5-5 cm long and has narrow wings. Tendrils are usually present. The leaf blade is oval and 10-20 cm long by 3-12 cm wide. It is papery. There can be 1-3 flowerings stalks together. They are 3-6 cm long. There can be 6-20 flowers on each stalk. The flowers are greenish yellow. The fruit is a dark red berry. It is round and 1.5-2 cm across.

There are about 300 Smilax species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in forest thickets and shaded slopes from near sea level to 1500 m in southern China. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Cambodia, China, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The fruit are conserved and eaten. The rhizome is eaten.

Edible parts

Fruit, rhizome, root

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Akar kelona, Porpreus, Vor rombers

Synonyms

Smilax extensa Wall. ex Hook.f.;