Woody vine, high-climbing or thicket-forming. Stems nearly round in cross-section, green, tough and wiry. Spines stiff and broad-based. Leaves waxy-white (glaucous) below, ovate to elliptic or reniform, 5-15 cm (2-6 in) long and 3.5-13 cm (1.4-5 in) wide. Flowers several, small, greenish, blooming in Spring. Fruits black or blue, glaucous, about 6 mm (0.25 in) long, 1-2 seeded, ripening in Fall.
Distribution: Native to most of the eastern half of the U. S.
Habitat: Deciduous forests and abandoned fields, often very abundant along stream banks and forest margins.
NWI status: UPL
Comment: This species is highly variable with respect to leaf size and density of spines. Smilax is an ancient Greek name for an evergreen oak; glauca refers to the glaucous undersurface of the leaves.
Distribution in Oklahoma: 
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Last update: 9/20/99
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