Climbing herb to 3 m high, with a short, branching rhizome producing clusters of fleshy tubers. Cladodes broadly lanceolate, one per bract axil, 10–70 mm long, 4–30 mm wide. Flowers bisexual, solitary in axils, 8–9 mm wide, white to pale green, segments apically reflexed, overlapping basally to form a short tube; stamens shorter than the perianth; ovary 2 mm long. Berry globular, 6–10 mm diam., red. Seeds few-numerous, 3–4 mm long. Smilax (Bridal Creeper). Flowers Aug.–Sep.
LoM, MuM, Wim, GleP, Brid, VVP, VRiv, RobP, MuF, GipP, OtP, WaP, Gold, CVU, GGr, DunT, NIS, EGL, EGU, HSF, HNF, OtR, Strz, VAlp. Also naturalised WA, SA, Qld, NSW, Tas. Native to southern Africa. The vigorous spring growth often completely smothers other vegetation.
