Small canar sarsaparilla
Smilax perfoliata

Family: Smilacaceae

What it is like

A trailing, prickly shrub or climbing vine. The stem is branched and 8 m long. It is woody. There can be a few prickles. The leaves are stalked. The stalks are 2-4 cm long. The stalks are winged and have ear shaped appendages. The leaves are oval and taper to the tip. The leaf blade is 6-17 cm long by 3-12 cm wide. There are 10-30 flowering stalks together and they are 5-17 cm long. They have many flowers. The flowers are yellow. They are in the axils of leaves. The fruit is a berry. It is round and 4-6 mm across.

There are about 300 Smilax species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. In Nepal plants grow between 500-900 m altitude. They trail on shrubs in open places. In China they grow from near sea level to 1500 m altitude in S China. In Yunnan. It occurs in the Western Ghats in India.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bangladesh, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The tender leaves and shoots are cooked as a vegetable. They are also eaten raw with chilli sauce. The fresh fruit are eaten. Flowers are eaten raw by local children.

Edible parts

Leaves, fruit, flowers

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

In NE Thailand fruit are available March to May.

Its other names

Local names

Bag asura kota, Canar bokor kecil, Chuan qiao ba qia, Kaiha, Kukudaino, Phanthok, Sein-nabaw, Shiahkrot, Sila assugur gederjhar bendwng

Synonyms

Smilax annamensis Rendle; Smilax laurifola Willd.; Smilax laurina Kunth; Smilax prolifera Wall. ex Roxb.; Smilax siamensis T. Koyama;