This taxon has sometimes been spelled Smilax glycophylla[]. The authorship is sometimes attributed to J.White.

Common Name: Sweet Sarsparilla

General Information

Smilax glyciphylla is an unarmed, evergreen climbing shrub producing a clump of stems from a tuberous rootstock. The stems can be 5 metres or more long, they climb into the surrounding vegetation, attaching themselves by means of tendrils[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine. The plant is sometimes cultivated[]. This report does not make it clear if it is cultivated as an ornamental or medicinal plant.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Australia - eastern New South Wales, northern and eastern Queensland

Habitat

Valleys in humid positions along the coast[]. Lowland, upland and mountain rain forest; at elevations up to 1,500 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Evergreen Climber
Height	5.00 m
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Smilax glyciphylla is native to much of coastal eastern Australia from the tropics of northern Queensland to the warm temperate climate of eastern New South Wales. It is known to experience frost in parts of its range and is said to tolerate short periods with temperatures down to at least -7°c[].
Succeeds in most soils in sun or semi-shade[].
This species was one of the earliest medicinal plants to be used by Europeans in Australia, and its value as a tonic and a scurvy preventative was recorded in 1790[].
A dioecious species - both male and female forms must be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Edible Uses

The leaves are refreshing to chew[].

The leaves are used as a tea substitute[, , ]. A drink that is both sweet and bitter at the same time[].

A sugar substitute[]. The part used is not specified.

Medicinal

The leaves are alterative, antiscorbutic, diuretic, pectoral, tonic[]. They are applied topically to clear skin problems[]

The leaves, combined with the black fruits, are considered to have blood cleansing and tonic actions. They are used to treat aches, pains, rheumatism, general sickness, coughs, colds, congestion, and scurvy[]

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow early spring in a warm greenhouse[]. This note probably refers to the tropical members of the genus, seeds of plants from cooler areas seem to require a period of cold stratification, some species taking 2 or more years to germinate[]. We sow the seed of temperate species in a cold frame as soon as we receive it, and would sow the seed as soon as it is ripe if we could obtain it then[]. When the seedlings eventually germinate, prick them out into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first year, though we normally grow them on in pots for 2 years. Plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer.
Division in early spring as new growth begins[]. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.
Cuttings of half-ripe shoots, July in a frame[].