Catbrier (Family Smilacaceae)

Smilacaceae, the Greenbrier Family, is a family of flowering plants.

Up to some decades ago the genera now included in family Smilac-

aceae were often assigned to a more broadly defined family Liliaceae,

but for the past twenty to thirty years most botanists have accepted

Smilacaceae as a distinct family. Smilacaceae has been divided into

two genera - Heterosmilax and the larger Smilax (although more

recently Heterosmilax has been found to have arisen from within

the ranks for Smilax). Other classification approaches divide Smilac-

aceae into three genera - Heterosmilax, Pseudosmilax, and Smilax -

comprising approximately 370 species.

Widespread in tropical and subtropical regions of the Southern

Hemisphere, with a few extending into north temperate regions.

The roots of some species are used medicinally for the treatment of

rheumatism and from another species, the stimulant China root is

obtained.

Back to Inventory of Vine Families and Species