Description: Vines with climbing or straggling stems, stems prickly or smooth.
Leaves alternate, lamina with 3–7 longitudinal veins; petiole ± short, tendrils at first usually ± straight and then coiling and often breaking off on older stems.
Inflorescence axillary, pedunculate, umbellate. Tepals greenish white, ± equal. Stamens 6; filaments free; anthers dehiscing by longitudinal slits.
Fruit a berry; seeds 1 to few.
Distribution and occurrence: World: c. 300 spp., trop. to temp. regions. Aust.: 7 spp. (3 spp. endemic), Qld, N.S.W., Vic., N.T., W.A.
Text by G. J. Harden
Taxon concept:
| | Key to the species | |
| 1 | Stems prickly; leaves with 5 longitudinal veins, lower surface not glaucous; tepals 3–4 mm long | Smilax australis |
| Stems not prickly; leaves with 3 longitudinal veins, lower surface glaucous; tepals 1–2 mm long | Smilax glyciphylla |
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