Smilacaceae
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| Smilacaceae | ||||||||||
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 Smilax aspera | ||||||||||
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Heterosmilax |
The Smilacaceae is a plant family formerly included in the Liliaceae (lily family) but now regarded as a distinct segregate family, allied to the Dioscoreaceae (yam family). The family occurs throughout the tropical and warm temperate regions of the world.
Members of this family typically have woody roots and a climbing or vining form. Some have woody vining stems, often with thorns, while others are herbaceous above ground and thornless. Some are known for their malodorous flowers.
The genus Nemexia includes the herbaceous plants native to North America that were formerly included in Smilax. Smilax, the type genus, includes only plants that have a woody, vining form with thorns.