Smilax excelsa
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID644022809bc00474763425 |
| Scientific name | Smilax excelsa |
| Authority | L. |
| First published in | Sp. Pl. : 1029 (1753) |
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
Smilax excelsa is cultivated as an ornamental climbing plant. Nurseries market it as a garden vine for trellises, walls, fences, and as a fast‑growing ground‑cover. It is sold under common names such as “large greenbrier” and is valued for its glossy, evergreen foliage and vigorous twining habit. It is used for privacy screens and noise reduction in urban landscaping.
Industrial and craft applications:
In parts of the Caucasus and the Balkan region, the flexible stems are harvested for cordage. The outer bast fibers are extracted and used to make rope, twine, and small baskets. Traditional craftspeople also employ the stem fibers in weaving coarse textiles. The bast fibers are soaked, separated, and twisted into rope, valued for moisture resistance.
Food and beverages (non‑medicinal):
Young shoots emerging in early spring are collected and eaten as a vegetable. They are boiled, sautéed, or added to soups, providing a texture and flavor reminiscent of asparagus. This use is recorded in ethnobotanical surveys of the southern Caucasus and north‑western Balkans. Shoots are harvested when 10–15 cm long, boiled briefly, then sautéed or added to stews.
Wood and fiber:
The stems contain a layer of bast fibers rich in cellulose, which gives them good tensile strength. These fibers are suitable for natural‑fiber applications such as rope and woven goods, and they have been examined for potential use in biodegradable composites. The bast fibers are easily separated from the bark, providing flexibility suitable for rope and coarse textiles.
Properties relevant to use:
The species exhibits rapid, herbaceous stem elongation (several metres per growing season) and can climb by twining around supports. It tolerates a range of soil types and partial shade, enabling establishment in diverse garden settings. The high cellulose content of its bast fibers contributes to their durability in cordage. The species roots at nodes, spreads via rhizomes, tolerates moderate drought and both acidic and neutral soils.
Sustainability and sourcing:
Propagation is straightforward by seed or vegetative cuttings, allowing commercial production without extensive wild harvesting. The plant grows readily on marginal land, and cultivated specimens supply the ornamental market while reducing pressure on natural populations. Propagation by seed or cuttings enables commercial production on marginal land, supporting smallholder income without competing with food crops.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Smilax panduriformis | Aliev | Bot. Mater. Gerb. Bot. Inst. Komarova Akad. Nauk S.S.S.R. 21: 80 (1961) |
| Smilax laevis | Gueldenst. ex Ledeb. | Fl. Ross. 4: 129 (1852) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| Azerbaijani | hündür mərəvcə |
| Bulgarian | Висока скрипка |
| Czech | přestup štíhlý |
| German | hohe stechwinde |
| Georgian | ეკალღიჭი |
| xmf | კალიე |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!
No germination or propagation data was added yet.
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
-
Africa click to expand
-
Macaronesia
- Azores
-
Macaronesia
-
Asia-temperate click to expand
-
Caucasus
- North Caucasus
- Transcaucasus
-
Western Asia
- Iran
- Lebanon-Syria
- Turkey
-
Caucasus
-
Europe click to expand
-
Southeastern Europe
- Bulgaria
- Greece
- Romania
- Turkey-in-Europe
-
Southeastern Europe
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000742607 |
| Tropicos | 18400334 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:541432-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-289239 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 358462 |
| Observations.org | 124787 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 754786 |
| NBN Atlas | NBNSYS0200003189 |
| IPNI | 541432-1 |
| iNaturalist | 485890 |
| GBIF | 5295073 |
| EPPO | SMIEX |
| EOL | 1082777 |
| PaleoBotany | 83694 |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
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Phytochemical Profile Top
Add a new one!
Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids | |||||
| (1S,2R,4R,5'R,6S,7R,8S,9S,12S,13R,16R)-5',7,9,13-tetramethylspiro[5-oxapentacyclo[10.8.0.02,9.04,8.013,18]icos-18-ene-6,2'-oxane]-16-ol | 162923165 | Click to see | 414.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00563473 |
| (25R)-5alpha-Spirostan-3beta-ol | 219836 | Click to see CC1CCC2(C(C3C(O2)CC4C3(CCC5C4CCC6C5(CCC(C6)O)C)C)C)OC1 | 416.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00563473 |
| Diosgenin | 99474 | Click to see CC1CCC2(C(C3C(O2)CC4C3(CCC5C4CC=C6C5(CCC(C6)O)C)C)C)OC1 | 414.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00563473 |
| Spirost-5-en-3-ol | 234096 | Click to see | 414.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00563473 |
| Tigogenin | 99516 | Click to see | 416.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00563473 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Steroidal glycosides / Steroidal saponins | |||||
| (2S,3R,4R,5R,6S)-2-[(2R,3S,4S,5R,6R)-4-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-6-[(1S,2S,4S,5'R,6S,7S,8R,9S,12S,13R,16S)-5',7,9,13-tetramethylspiro[5-oxapentacyclo[10.8.0.02,9.04,8.013,18]icos-18-ene-6,2'-oxane]-16-yl]oxy-5-[(2S,3R,4R,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-3-yl]oxy-6-methyloxane-3,4,5-triol | 162967409 | Click to see | 869.00 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/14786410802624827 |
| [(2S,3R,4R,5R,6S)-4,5-dihydroxy-2-[(2R,3R,4R,5S,6R)-4-hydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-2-[[(1S,2S,4S,6R,7S,8R,9S,12S,13R,16S)-6-hydroxy-7,9,13-trimethyl-6-[(3R)-3-methyl-4-[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxybutyl]-5-oxapentacyclo[10.8.0.02,9.04,8.013,18]icos-18-en-16-yl]oxy]-5-[(2S,3R,4R,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-3-yl]oxy-6-methyloxan-3-yl] acetate | 162976246 | Click to see CC1C2C(CC3C2(CCC4C3CC=C5C4(CCC(C5)OC6C(C(C(C(O6)CO)OC7C(C(C(C(O7)C)O)O)O)O)OC8C(C(C(C(O8)C)O)O)OC(=O)C)C)C)OC1(CCC(C)COC9C(C(C(C(O9)CO)O)O)O)O | 1091.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/14786410802624827 |
| [(2S,3R,4R,5S,6S)-3,5-dihydroxy-2-[(2R,3R,4R,5S,6R)-4-hydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-2-[[(1S,2S,4S,6R,7S,8R,9S,12S,13R,16S)-6-hydroxy-7,9,13-trimethyl-6-[(3R)-3-methyl-4-[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxybutyl]-5-oxapentacyclo[10.8.0.02,9.04,8.013,18]icos-18-en-16-yl]oxy]-5-[(2S,3R,4R,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-3-yl]oxy-6-methyloxan-4-yl] acetate | 163191720 | Click to see | 1091.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/14786410802624827 |
| [(2S,3R,4S,5R,6S)-4,5-dihydroxy-6-[(2R,3R,4R,5S,6R)-4-hydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-2-[[(1S,2S,4S,6R,7S,8R,9S,12S,13R,16S)-6-hydroxy-7,9,13-trimethyl-6-[(3R)-3-methyl-4-[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxybutyl]-5-oxapentacyclo[10.8.0.02,9.04,8.013,18]icos-18-en-16-yl]oxy]-5-[(2S,3R,4R,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-3-yl]oxy-2-methyloxan-3-yl] acetate | 163000455 | Click to see | 1091.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/14786410802624827 |
| [3,5-Dihydroxy-2-[4-hydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-2-[[6-hydroxy-7,9,13-trimethyl-6-[3-methyl-4-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxybutyl]-5-oxapentacyclo[10.8.0.02,9.04,8.013,18]icos-18-en-16-yl]oxy]-5-(3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl)oxyoxan-3-yl]oxy-6-methyloxan-4-yl] acetate | 162964495 | Click to see | 1091.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/14786410802624827 |
| [4,5-Dihydroxy-2-[4-hydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-2-[[6-hydroxy-7,9,13-trimethyl-6-[3-methyl-4-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxybutyl]-5-oxapentacyclo[10.8.0.02,9.04,8.013,18]icos-18-en-16-yl]oxy]-5-(3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl)oxyoxan-3-yl]oxy-6-methyloxan-3-yl] acetate | 162976245 | Click to see | 1091.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/14786410802624827 |
| [4,5-Dihydroxy-6-[4-hydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-2-[[6-hydroxy-7,9,13-trimethyl-6-[3-methyl-4-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxybutyl]-5-oxapentacyclo[10.8.0.02,9.04,8.013,18]icos-18-en-16-yl]oxy]-5-(3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl)oxyoxan-3-yl]oxy-2-methyloxan-3-yl] acetate | 163000454 | Click to see | 1091.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/14786410802624827 |
| 2-[4-Hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-6-(5',7,9,13-tetramethylspiro[5-oxapentacyclo[10.8.0.02,9.04,8.013,18]icos-18-ene-6,2'-oxane]-16-yl)oxy-5-(3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl)oxyoxan-3-yl]oxy-6-methyloxane-3,4,5-triol | 271916 | Click to see | 869.00 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/14786410802624827 |
| beta-D-Glucopyranoside, (3beta,25R)-26-(beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-22-hydroxyfurost-5-en-3-yl O-6-deoxy-alpha-L-mannopyranosyl-(1->2)-O-(6-deoxy-alpha-L-mannopyranosyl-(1->4))- | 500375 | Click to see | 1049.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/14786410802624827 |
| Protodioscin | 441891 | Click to see CC1C2C(CC3C2(CCC4C3CC=C5C4(CCC(C5)OC6C(C(C(C(O6)CO)OC7C(C(C(C(O7)C)O)O)O)O)OC8C(C(C(C(O8)C)O)O)O)C)C)OC1(CCC(C)COC9C(C(C(C(O9)CO)O)O)O)O | 1049.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/14786410802624827 |
| Pseduoprotodioscin | 73817989 | Click to see | 1031.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/14786410802624827 |
| Pseudoprotodioscin | 21637110 | Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2C(OC(C(C2O)OC3C(C(C(C(O3)C)O)O)O)OC4CCC5(C6CCC7(C(C6CC=C5C4)CC8C7C(=C(O8)CCC(C)COC9C(C(C(C(O9)CO)O)O)O)C)C)C)CO)O)O)O | 1031.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1080/14786410802624827 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives / Coumaric acids and derivatives | |||||
| [3-Hydroxy-2-[3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoyloxy]propyl] 3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate | 72727916 | Click to see | 444.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S10600-010-9594-5 |
| 1,2-Diferuloyl-sn-glycerol | 76967301 | Click to see | 444.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S10600-010-9594-5 |
| 2,3-Dihydroxypropyl 3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate | 67283698 | Click to see | 268.26 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S10600-010-9594-5 |
| 3-(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)propenoic acid (2R)-2,3-dihydroxypropyl ester | 101608627 | Click to see COC1=C(C=CC(=C1)C=CC(=O)OCC(CO)O)O | 268.26 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S10600-010-9594-5 |
| 5-[3-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoyloxy]-3,4-dihydroxycyclohexene-1-carboxylic acid | 4484226 | Click to see | 336.29 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S10600-010-9594-5 |
| 5-O-Caffeoylshikimic acid | 5281762 | Click to see | 336.29 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S10600-010-9594-5 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acid esters / Coumaric acid esters | |||||
| 1-O-(4-Hydroxycinnamoyl)-L-glycerol | 13965854 | Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C=CC(=O)OCC(CO)O)O | 238.24 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S10600-010-9594-5 |
| 2,3-Dihydroxypropyl 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate | 54528247 | Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C=CC(=O)OCC(CO)O)O | 238.24 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S10600-010-9594-5 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Flavanones | |||||
| (+-)-Naringenin | 932 | Click to see | 272.25 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S10600-010-9594-5 |
| Naringenin | 439246 | Click to see | 272.25 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S10600-010-9594-5 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Stilbenes | |||||
| 5-(2-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)Ethenyl)Benzene-1,3-Diol | 5056 | Click to see | 228.24 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S10600-010-9594-5 |
| Resveratrol | 445154 | Click to see | 228.24 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S10600-010-9594-5 |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |