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Photographer: Emmet J. Judziewicz
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Family Smilacaceae
Smilax tamnoides L.
bristly greenbrier, China root, hellfetter
Smilax: Greek for "clasping"
tamnoides: Tamnus, a Latin name for a climbing plant; Greek oides for like, resemble
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| Status: | Native |
| Plant: | climbing, perennial, woody vine up to 25' tall, lower part of stem with needle-like, uneven prickles |
| Flower: | green to yellowish, 6-parted; inflorescence a few, 1 1/2" loose, rounded umbels from the leaf axils, the stalks much longer than the leaf stalk; blooms May-June |
| Fruit: | dark blue, smooth berry |
| Leaf: | underside green, parallel veins, broadly oval with a blunt point, edges with tiny teeth |
| Habitat: | moderate moisture; woods, forests, fencerows |
| (Glossary) |
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