Smooth Carrion Flower Smilax herbacea
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Nemexia herbacea
- Phonetic Spelling
- SMIL-aks her-bay-SEE-uh
- Description
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Carrion Flower is fragrant. However, the fragrance has been described as 'rotten meat' or 'dead rats'. It is typically found in moist forests, thickets, and wooded banks. It tolerates a wide range of soil types but prefers moist soil. The Smooth Carrion Flower is distinguished from other species of Smilax because it is not thorny and it lacks hairs on the underside of the leaf. It also has a very long stem that holds the berry bunch on the vine. The plants of Smilax are dioecious - the male and female flowers are on separate plants and are therefore not self-fertile.
Fire Risk: This plant has an extreme flammability rating and should not be planted within the defensible space of your home. Select plants with a low flammability rating for the sites nearest your home.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Smilax
- Species:
- herbacea
- Family:
- Smilacaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The fruit has been used to treat hoarseness. Dried and powdered leaves have been used as a dressing on burns. The wilted leaves have been used as a dressing on boils. The essence of the root has been used for back pains, stomach complaints, lung disorders, and kidney problems
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern Canada and the US, south to Georgia and Alabama
- Fire Risk Rating:
- extreme flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Berries are eaten by Ruffled Grouse, Wild Turkey, and various songbirds. Leaves are grazed by deer and rabbits. Flowers are pollinated by insects, notably carrion flies which lay eggs in the blossoms.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Fragrance
- Screening
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Nesting
- Climbing Method:
- Tendrils
- Edibility:
- Leaves and young shoots are cooked and used like asparagus. The root can be dried, ground into a powder and then used with cereals for making bread. It can also be used as a gelatine substitute.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Weed
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Climbing
- Erect
- Appendage:
- Tendrils
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Blue
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Individual dark blue berries are about ¼" across and contain about 3-5 seeds. In North Carolina, the fruits are available from August to October.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Umbel
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Radial
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Tepals
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Individual umbels are about 1½–3" across, consisting of 20-120 flowers on slender pedicels; the umbels resemble a globe when fully developed. It is dioecious; the green to yellowish-green staminate flowers are each ¼" across, with of 6 tepals and 6 stamens with white anthers. The green to yellowish-green pistillate flowers are each ¼" across, with of 6 tepals and a pistil with 3 flattened stigmata. The unpleasant (putrid) smelling flowers attract insects and are pollinated by carrion flies. In North Carolina, the flowers are available from May to June.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Lanceolate
- Oblong
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Upper surfaces of the leaves are medium green and smooth, and lower surfaces are pale green. They are ovate-oval to broadly ovate-lanceolate with smooth margins and parallel-veined.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Light green to purple stems are cylindrical, slightly speckled, smooth, and often glaucous.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Riparian
- Rock Wall
- Slope/Bank
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Barrier
- Screen/Privacy
- Security
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Malodorous
