Smilax herbacea

Common Name: 
carrion flower, carrion vine, jacob's ladder
Scientific Name: 
Smilax herbacea L.
Family Name: 
Smilacaceae - Catbrier Family
Identification Notes
Life Cycle
native annual, reproducing by seed
Stems
vine, upright, climbing with numerous tendril from leaf axils, unarmed without spines, glaucous (light whitish powdery coating that wipes off)
Stems of Carrion Flower
Stems of Carrion Flower
Stems of Carrion Flower
Stems of Carrion Flower
Stems of Carrion Flower
Leaves
alternate, oval with pointed tip, simple with entire margins, veins parallel and somewhat concave
Leaves of Carrion Flower
Leaves of Carrion Flower
Leaves of Carrion Flower
Leaves of Carrion Flower
Flowers
6-petaled, green to yellowish-green, smell of rotting meat; axillary ball-like umbels, long stalked
Flowers of Carrion Flower
Flowers of Carrion Flower
Flowers of Carrion Flower
Fruit
berry, round and smooth, dark blue, round cluster resembling a giant raspberry
Fruit of Carrion Flower
Fruit of Carrion Flower
Fruit of Carrion Flower
Fruit of Carrion Flower
Fruit of Carrion Flower