Illinois Natural History Survey - University of Illinois

Smilax tamnoides
Catbrier
Taxonomy

Synonyms: Smilax tamnoides hispida, Smilax hispida, Smilax tamnoides var. hispida

Subspecific taxa:

Classification:

Other taxonomic & nomenclature sources: USDA Plants;  ITIS;  The Plant List;  IPNI

Species Distribution
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More about map & occurrence records

County Map Legend
Absent:
Not known from county
Medium confidence:
Medium or unknown confidence;
often old records or unverifiable observations
Medium-high confidence:
Often observations by expert botanists
High confidence:
Often vouchered herbarium records
Planted / introduced:
Native species introduced outside historic range,
or only in planted locations within county (e.g., restorations)
Historic / extirpated:
Only historic records for the species; likely extirpated
(Note that this category is not yet functional)

North American distribution maps for this species: FLNA;  USDA Plants;  BONAP;  BISON

Collections, Observations & Flowering by Month [?]

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F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
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Collections & Observations by Decade [?]

Species Status

Status/Listing: No Information

Notes:

Origin: Native

Species Description

General: Monocot, perennial

Roots:

Shoots: alternate leaf arrangment; simple leaf type; entire, serrate, other leaf margin; Other leaf venation; lanceolate, orbicular and peltate, cordate, oblique leaf shape

Inflorescence: umbel

Flowers: unisexual, dioecious; 3 merous; complete, regular; yellow, green; hypogynous ovary position

Fruit: berry

Physiology: autotrophic

Reproduction: sexual

Ecology & Natural History

Habitat: Species is distributed in low woods in valleys.

ILPIN Notes: Stems are woody, usually conspicuously thorny, leaves deciduous; species is minutely serrulate. Older stems are covered with numerous crowded spines, presenting a very bristly appearance.

Functional Relationships:

  • Pollinators:
  • Dispersal:
  • Mycorrhizae:
  • N2 fixation:

Human Relationships:

  • Edibility [?] :
  • Showy Flowers:

Wildlife and Livestock Information:

  • Food Value:
  • Cover Value:

Coefficient of Conservatism (C-value) [?] :

  • Entire State: 3
  • Chicago Area: 5

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