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NC Native Plant Society:
Plant Details

Smilax herbacea

Common Carrionflower, Carrion-vine

Scientific Name:

Smilax herbacea

Genus:

Smilax

Species Epithet:

herbacea

Common Name:

Common Carrionflower, Carrion-vine

Plant Type

Herbaceous_Vine

Life Cycle

Annual (Herbs Only)

Plant Family

Smilacaceae (Greenbriar Family)

Native/Alien:

NC Native

Invasive Status:

(*Key)

Size:

1-3 ft., 3-6 ft.

Bloom Color(s):

Yellow, Green

Light:

Sun - 6 or more hours of sun per day, Part Shade - 2 to 6 hours of sun per day

Soil Moisture:

Moist

Bloom Time:

May, June

Growing Area:

Mountains, Piedmont, Sandhills

Habitat Description:

Moist deciduous forests. Common in NC Mountains and Piedmont, uncommon in the Sandhills, rare or absent in the Coastal Plain.

Leaf Arrangement:

Alternate

Leaf Retention:

Deciduous

Leaf Type:

Leaves veined, not needle-like or scale-like

Leaf Form:

Simple

Life Cycle:

Annual (Herbs Only)

Wildlife Value:

Has some wildlife value

Landscape Value:

Suitable for home landscapes

State Rank:

S5: Secure (*Key)

Global Rank:

G5 - Secure (*Key)

Notes:

This species lacks thorns. The inflorescence is a rounded cluster of yellowish-green flowers, with an odor like decaying meat; it is pollinated by carrion flies. Dioecious (male and female flowers on separate plants).

Smilax lasioneura and Smilax pulverulenta have recently been split from Smilax herbacea.

Smelly flowers (hence the name "Carrion Vine") in a rounded umbel. Lacks the prickles found in most other Smilax species.

Forsyth Co., NC

The Scientific Name is Smilax herbacea. You will likely hear them called Common Carrionflower, Carrion-vine. This picture shows the Smelly flowers (hence the name

Lisa Lofland Gould

Links:

USDA PLANTS Database Record

https://auth1.dpr.ncparks.gov/flora/species_account.php

https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/smilax-herbacea/

https://nc.audubon.org/conservation/bird-friendly-communities/bird-friendly-native-plants

https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/smilax/herbacea/



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