1146

 Smilax zeylanica L.

Synonym	:	Smilax zollingeri Kunth
Family	:	SMILACACEAE
Local name	:	Malayalam-  Karilanchi
Flowering and fruiting period	:	July-January
Distribution	:	Indo-Malesia
Distribution in kerala	:	All Districts
Habitat	:	Moist deciduous and semi-evergreen forests, also in the plains
Uses	:	Stems are used as toothbrush which is considered useful against toothache
Key Botanical Characters: Climbing shrubs; stem prickly. Leaves simple, alternate, 6-12 x 3-6.5 cm, ovate-oblong or ovate-lanceolate, base rounded, acute to shortly cuspidate at apex, coriaceous, glabrous and glossy, 3-5-ribbed from base; petiole to 2 cm long, tendril from either sides of the petiole. Umbels axillary, 1-3; peduncles 2-3 cm long. Flowers unisexual; pedicels 5-6 mm long; bracts oblong. Perianth 6-partite, free, greenish, c. 7 mm long, oblong. Stamens in male flowers 6, free; filaments flat, apex callose; pistillode 0. Ovary in female flowers 3-lobed, 3-celled; ovules 1 or 2 per cell; style 3-fid; staminodes 3-6. Berry 0.8-1 x 0.6-0.8 cm; seeds 1-3, 3-4 mm across, globose.