Smilax blumei (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia
Introduction

Protologue: Monogr. phan. 1: 202 (1878).

Distribution

The Andaman Islands, peninsular Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Java, New Guinea and north-eastern Australia.

Uses

S. blumei is probably used for similar medicinal purposes as S. leucophylla. The roots are boiled by the Kedayan people in Sarawak to make a drink for treating rheumatism.

Observations

A climber up to 20 m long with sparsely prickly stem and branches.
Leaves ovate-elliptical, up to 25 cm long, petiole up to 3 cm long, wings of petiolar sheaths distinct, tendrils present.
Inflorescence with (1-)3-10 umbels.
Fruit about 8-12 mm in diameter, dark purple to black at maturity.

S. blumei occurs in evergreen forest up to 1500 m altitude. It has often been confused with S. leucophylla, which can be distinguished by its glaucous leaf undersurface and thicker leaves.

Selected sources

[278] Conran, J.G. & Clifford, H.T., 1986. Smilacaceae. In: George, A.S. (Editor): Flora of Australia. Vol. 46. Iridaceae to Dioscoreaceae. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra, Australia. pp. 180-196.
[779] Koyama, T., 1960. Materials toward a monograph of the genus Smilax. Quarterly Journal of the Taiwan Museum 13: 1-62.
[780] Koyama, T., 1975. Smilacaceae. In: Smitinand, T. & Larsen, K. (Editors): Flora of Thailand. Vol. 2. The Forest Herbarium, Royal Forest Department, Bangkok, Thailand. pp. 211-250.
[1227] Ridley, H.N., 1922-1925. The flora of the Malay Peninsula. 5 volumes. Government of the Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States. L. Reeve & Co, London, United Kingdom.

Main genus page

Smilax (Medicinal plants)

Authors

Stephen P. Teo