San mai ba qia, Cat briar
Smilax trinervula

Family: Smilacaceae

What it is like

A small shrub which can be climbing. It loses its leaves during the year. The stem is branched. It has few or no prickles. The leaf stalk is 3-5 mm long and with narrow wings. Tendrils are present. The leaf blade is 2-5 cm long by 1-2.5 cm wide. It is papery. The flowering stalk is in the axil of a young leaf. Flowers of both sexes are present and they are greenish yellow. The fruit is a round, red berry. It is 5-6 mm across.

There are about 300 Smilax species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in forests between 400-1700 m altitude in N & E China.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China, Japan

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Smilax biflora Siebold ex Miquel var. trinervula (Miquel) Hatusima ex T.Koyama; Smilax china L. var. trinervula (Miquel) Makino; Smilax esquirolii H.Leveille; Smilax leucocarps H.Leveille & Vaniot;