Yuan ye ba qia
Smilax bauhinioides
Family: Smilacaceae
What it is like
A climbing vine. The stems are branched. They are 1-2 m long and woody. There are a few prickles. The leaf stalk is 1.5-2 cm long and scarcely winged. There are usually tendrils near the base. The leaf blade is almost round and 4.5-7 cm long by 4-6.5 cm wide. It is thickly leathery. There are 5 main veins. They are raised on both surfaces except the mid vein.
There are about 300 Smilax species.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows in pine forests in S China.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, China, Indochina, SE Asia, Vietnam
How it is used for food
The young leaves are eaten.
Edible parts
Fruit, leaves