Smilax bracteata C. Presl subsp. verruculosa (Merrill) T. Koyama; S. bracteata var. verruculosa (Merrill) T. Koyama; S. trachyclada Hayata; S. verruculosa Merrill.

Vines climbing. Stem woody; stem and branches densely verruculose, sometimes sparsely prickly. Petiole 1--1.5 cm, narrowly winged for 2/5--1/2 its length; abscission zone distal; tendrils usually present. Leaf blade broadly ovate-elliptic, 6--15 × 4--10 cm, thickly herbaceous or papery, base rounded, apex subacute. Inflorescence a raceme of 3--7 umbels, 3--6 cm, basally prophyllate; umbels of both sexes many flowered, base slightly thickened. Male flowers: outer tepals ca. 5 × 1.2 mm, inner ones much narrower. Female flowers: tepals smaller than male ones; staminodes 3. Berries purplish black, ovoid-globose or somewhat pear-shaped, 5--6 mm in diam. Fl. Dec--Feb, fr. Jul--Sep.

Smilax aspericaulis is often treated as a variety or subspecies of S. bracteata because it differs only in its verruculose stems (vs. stems occasionally thorny but not verruculose). It is possible that S. aspericaulis represents an ecotype of S. bracteata occurring at higher elevations.

Forests, thickets, shaded slopes; near sea level to 1900 m. Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Taiwan, ?Xizang, Yunnan [India, Myanmar, Philippines, Vietnam].