smilax

smi·lax  (smlks)

n.

1. See catbrier.

2. A slender vine (Asparagus asparagoides) that has glossy foliage and is popular as a floral decoration.

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[Latin smlax, bindweed, from Greek.]

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smilax [ˈsmaɪlæks]

n

1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) any typically climbing shrub of the smilacaceous genus Smilax, of warm and tropical regions, having slightly lobed leaves, small greenish or yellow flowers, and berry-like fruits: includes the sarsaparilla plant and greenbrier

2. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) a fragile, much branched liliaceous vine, Asparagus asparagoides, of southern Africa: cultivated by florists for its glossy bright green foliage

[via Latin from Greek: bindweed]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	Smilax - sometimes placed in Smilacaceae       genus Smilax liliid monocot genus - genus of monocotyledonous plants comprising mostly herbs having usually petaloid sepals and petals and compound pistils family Liliaceae, Liliaceae, lily family - includes species sometimes divided among the following families: Alliaceae; Aloeaceae; Alstroemeriaceae; Aphyllanthaceae; Asparagaceae; Asphodelaceae; Colchicaceae; Convallariaceae; Hemerocallidaceae; Hostaceae; Hyacinthaceae; Melanthiaceae; Ruscaceae; Smilacaceae; Tecophilaeacea; Xanthorrhoeaceae sarsaparilla - any of various prickly climbing plants of the tropical American genus Smilax having aromatic roots and heart-shaped leaves bullbrier, catbrier, greenbrier, horse brier, horse-brier, Smilax rotundifolia, briar, brier - a very prickly woody vine of the eastern United States growing in tangled masses having tough round stems with shiny leathery leaves and small greenish flowers followed by clusters of inedible shiny black berries
	2.	smilax - fragile twining plant of South Africa with bright green flattened stems and glossy foliage popular as a floral decoration Asparagus asparagoides genus Asparagus - large genus of Old World perennial herbs with erect or spreading or climbing stems and small scalelike leaves and inconspicuous flowers; sometimes placed in family Asparagaceae vine - a plant with a weak stem that derives support from climbing, twining, or creeping along a surface