Practical
Plants

Smilax herbacea

Carrion Flower

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Smilax
Life cycle
perennial
Woodiness
woody
Fertility
self sterile
Flower type
dioecious

Uses

Edible uses

Leaves and young shoots - raw or cooked and used like asparagus[12][2][3]. A delicate and palatable vegetable[4]. Fruit - raw or cooked and used in jellies etc[12][4]. It should only be used when fully ripe[4]. A pleasant flavour[6][8]. The fruit is about 10mm in diameter[5]. Root - cooked[8]. It can be dried, ground into a powder and then used with cereals for making bread etc[11][2]. It can also be used as a gelatine substitute[11][2].

Plant part
Fruit
Product or use
Gelatine
Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Root

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

Eating the fruit is said to be effective in treating hoarseness[6][8]. The parched and powdered leaves have been used as a dressing on burns[8]. The wilted leaves have been used as a dressing on boils[8]. The root is analgesic[8]. A decoction has been used in the treatment of back pains, stomach complaints, lung disorders and kidney problems[8].

Product or use
Analgesic
Product or use
Antiaphonic
Product or use
Kidney
Product or use
Pectoral
Product or use
Poultice
Product or use
Salve

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Climber

Environment

Range
Eastern N. America - southwards from Quebec.
Habitat
Open woodlands, meadows and rich alluvial thickets[9].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 4+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed - sow March in a warm greenhouse[1]. This note probably refers to the tropical members of the genus, seeds of plants from cooler areas seem to require a period of cold stratification, some species taking 2 or more years to germinate[K]. We sow the seed of temperate species in a cold frame as soon as we receive it, and would sow the seed as soon as it is ripe if we could obtain it then[K]. When the seedlings eventually germinate, prick them out into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first year, though we normally grow them on in pots for 2 years. Plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer. Division in early spring as new growth begins[7]. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer. Cuttings of half-ripe shoots, July in a frame[7].

Cultivation

Succeeds in most soils in sun or semi-shade[5]. Hardy to about -20°c[5]. A polymorphic species[9]. The flowers are malodorous[5], they smell like dead rats[6]. A vigorous plant, it can be grown through trees or shrubs or over tree stumps[5]. The sub-species S. herbacea nipponicum is used in Japan[10]. This report probably refers to the species S. nipponica[K]. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Kavasch. B. Native Harvests. Vintage Books 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-394-72811-4

    ↩1↩2↩3

  3. McPherson. A. and S. Wild Food Plants of Indiana. Indiana University Press 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-253-28925-4

    ↩

  4. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  5. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  6. Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6

    ↩1↩2↩3

  7. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2

  8. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  9. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  10. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

  11. Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982-00-00 ISBN 0442222009

    ↩1↩2

  12. Harrington. H. D. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press 1967-00-00 ISBN 0-8623-0343-9

    ↩1↩2

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