Common name: Lawyer Vine, Wait-a-while, Barbwire Vine
Smilax australis R.Br. APNI* Synonyms: Smilax latifolia R.Br. APNI*
Description: Dioecious climber; stems to 8 m long, usually prickly.
Leaves with lamina lanceolate to broad-elliptic or ovate, mostly 5–15 cm long, 3–10 cm wide, apex acute to rounded and emarginate; lamina ± concolorous, glabrous, leathery, 5-veined, reticulate venation prominent; petiole 5–15 mm long, twisted; stipular tendrils coiling, up to 20 cm long, often breaking early.
Inflorescence axillary, simple or compound umbels; pedicels 15–25 mm long. Tepals 3–4 mm long, green or reddish.
Berry globose, 5–8 mm diam., shiny black; seeds 1 or 2.
Flowering: all year, but chiefly spring–summer.
Distribution and occurrence: Widespread and common in rainforest, sclerophyll forest, woodland and heath, often forming dense thickets; inland to Scone.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC, SC, NT, CT, ST, CWS, LHI
Other Australian states: Qld Vic. N.T.
Text by G. J. Harden
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 4 (1993)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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