Heterosmilax indica A.DC.; H. japonica Kunth.

Climbing shrubs. Stems angular or terete, smooth, without prickles, distantly branched. Branches slightly zigzag, angular or straight. Petioles 3–5 cm, wings 0.5–1 mm wide, non-clasping tendrils 3–7 cm long.  Leaves ovate-lanceolate to ovate-oblong, 17–20 × 8–9.5 cm, base obtuse to cordate, apex acuminate, costae 5 or 7, triplinerved. Inflorescence a solitary umbel, prophylls absent, peduncle 3–5 cm, receptacle flat to globular, bracts caducous, bracteoles ovate to lanceolate, ca. 2 mm, pedicels unequal, 1–2 cm, male umbels 20–30-flowered, female 10–20-flowered. Staminate flowers: perianth whorls equal, yellowish green, tepals connate, 3–5 x 1–3 mm, tapering at base, forming 3-teeth at apex, stamens 3, filaments flattened, connate at base, 2–2.5 mm, anthers oblong, 0.5–1 mm, creamish white. Pistillate flowers: staminodes 3, ovary globose, stigma 3. Berries black at maturity, globose, 6–8 mm in diam. Seeds 1–3.

Distribution: Nepal, E Himalaya, Assam-Burma, E Asia and SE Asia.

Altitudinal range: 100–200 m.

Ecology: Tropical forests. Often associated with rivers.

Flowering: June–August.

Fruiting: August–February.

Smilax bockii was previously known as Heterosmilax japonica which is synonymized under this species. Angular stems without prickles, inflorescence with solitary umbel, connate tepals and yellowish green flowers with three stamens are distinctive characters of S. bocki.

Smilax elegans subsp. elegans; S. elegans subsp. glaucophylla (Klotzsch) Noltie; S. glaucophylla Klotzsch; S. longibracteolata Hook. f.; S. parvifolia Wall. ex Hook. f.

Climbing shrubs.  Stems terete, without prickles, main stem always straight, lateral stem zigzag, densely branched. Branches straight or zigzag, flowering branches always zigzag. Petiole 0.3–1.5cm, winged, wings 1–2 mm wide, non-clasping, tendrils vestigial on flowering branches, persistent on non-flowering branches, ca. 1 cm long. Leaves ovate to lanceolate, 4–8 x 2–4 cm, base cordate in ovate leaves, truncate in lanceolate, apex acuminate to deltoid, costae 5 or 7, triplinerved. Inflorescence a solitary umbel, prophylls absent, peduncle 1–1.5 cm, bracts caducous, bracteoles lanceolate, ca. 1 mm, pedicels shorter than peduncle, receptacle globose, male umbels 10–15-flowered, female 5–10-flowered.  Staminate flowers: perianth whorls dimorphic, greenish yellow outer tepals oblong-lanceolate, 1.5–2 x ca. 1 mm, inner tepals narrow, stamens 6, filaments free, ca. 1 mm long, anthers linear, ca. 0.5 mm, white. Pistillate flowers: elliptic, ca. 2.5 x 1 mm, staminodes 3, ovary oval, stigmas 3. Berries black when ripe, globose, ca. 3 mm in diam. Seeds 1 or 2.

Distribution: Nepal, W Himalaya, E Himalaya, Tibetan Plateau, Assam-Burma.

Altitudinal range: 1,600–3,100 m.

Ecology: Subtropical evergreen forests and disturbed forests.

Flowering:  April–June.

Fruiting: August–October. 

Smilax elegans closely resembles with Smilax menispermoidea in having ovate leaves and absence of prickles, however, it differs by its zigzag branches, greenish yellow staminate flowers and black berries.

चटलाङ्ग Chatlang (Nepali).

Climbing shrubs.  Stems terete, prickly, densely branched. Branches straight, angular when young, with straight or recurved prickles. Petioles 1–5 mm, wings 1–3 mm wide, triangular, non-clasping, tendrils vestigial in flowering branches, present in non-flowering shoots, 5–11 cm long. Leaves elliptic, lanceolate to almost linear, 3.5–9.6 (–14) x 1.3–4 (–6) cm, base obtuse to truncate, apex acuminate, costae 5, trinerved. Inflorescence a solitary umbel, prophylls absent, peduncle 0.9–2 cm long, receptacle oblong, pedicels 0.5–1 cm, bracts caducous, bracteoles lanceolate, 2—3 mm, male umbels 15–25-flowered, female 10–15-flowered. Staminate flowers: perianth whorls dimorphic, greenish yellow, outer whorl lanceolate, ca. 5 x 2 mm, inner whorl linear ca. 5 x 1 mm, stamens 6, 3–3.5 mm, filaments free, 1– 2 mm long, anthers white, oblong, ca. 0.5 mm.  Pistillate flowers: outer whorl oblanceolate ca. 3 x 1.5 mm, inner whorl lanceolate ca. 3 x 1 mm, staminodes 3, ovary ovoid, stigmas 3. Berries orange red at maturity, globose, 6–10 mm in diam. Seeds 1–3.

Distribution: Nepal, E Himalaya, Assam-Burma, S Asia, E Asia and SE Asia.

Elevation ranges: 1,100-2,700 m.

Ecology: Degraded subtropical broad leaved forests, dry rocky places and cultivated lands.

Flowering: April–May

Fruiting: September–November.

कुबिरैनो Kubiraino, चोप चिनी  Chop chini (Nepali).

Climbing shrubs. Stems terete, smooth, without prickles or sparsely prickled, distantly branched. Branches terete or obscurely angular and smooth. Petioles 10–15 mm, wings 2–3 mm wide. non-clasping tendrils rudimentary in flowering branches, persistent in non-flowering branch, 5–10 cm long.  Leaves broadly ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 5–16 x 2–8 cm, base obtuse, apex acuminate, costae 5, trinerved. Inflorescence a solitary umbel, prophylls ovate, peduncle ca. 1 cm, receptacle reniform, bracts single almost triangular, ca. 3 mm, bracteoles small, less than 1 mm, pedicels capillary to filiform, 1–1.5 cm, peduncle shorter than pedicels, male umbels 15–20-flowered, female 10–15-flowered. Staminate flowers: perianth whorls dimorphic, light green, outer whorl lanceolate, 5–6 x 1.5–2 mm, inner whorl linear, ca. 5 x 1 mm, stamens 6, 5–6 mm, filaments filiform, 2–3 mm, free, anthers white, ca. 1 mm. Pistillate flowers: outer tepal almost triangular, ca. 2.5 x 1 mm, inner almost linear, ca. 2.5 × 0.5 mm, staminodes 3, ovary oval stigmas 2 or 3. Berries dark green, globose, ca. 2 mm in diam. Seeds 1–2.

Distribution: Nepal, E Himalaya, Assam-Burma, S Asia, E Asia and SE Asia.

Elevation ranges: 1,500–2,200 m.

Ecology: Mixed forests.

Flowering:  October–December.

Fruiting: February–April.

Smilax luteocaulis H.Lev.; S. rubriflora Rehder.

हाडे कुकुरडाइनु, Hade kukurdainu (Nepali).

Scandent climbing shrubs. Stems terete, smooth, without prickles, distantly branched. Flowering branches terete and striate, sometimes slightly zigzag. Petioles 5–14 mm, wings ca. 1–2 mm wide, non-clasping, tendrils 3–12 cm long. Leaves ovate or broadly ovate, 3–7 X 1.3–3 cm, base truncate or shallowly cordate, apex acute to acuminate, costae 5 or 7, triplinerved. Inflorescence a solitary umbel, prophylls absent, peduncle 2–6 cm, receptacle thin, bracts caducous, bracteoles small, 1.5—2 mm, pedicel filiform to capillary, 0.5–1 cm long, male umbels 15–25-flowered, female 10–15-flowered. Staminate flowers: perianth whorls equal, reddish purple, tepals ovate, ca. 3.5 x 1.5 mm, stamens 6, 0.6–1 mm, filaments free, ca. 0.5 mm long, anthers yellowish white, oval, ca. 0.5 x 0.5 mm.   Pistillate flowers: outer tepals ovate, ca. 3.5 x 1.5 mm, inner tepals oblanceolate, ca. 3.5 x 1 mm, staminodes 1–3, ovary globose, stigmas 3. Berries dark purple at maturity, globose, 6–8mm in diam.  Seed 1–3.

Distribution: Nepal, W Himalaya, E Himalaya, Tiibetan Plateau, Assam-Burma, E Asia and SE Asia.

Elevation ranges: 1,700–4,000 m.

Ecology: Semi-evergreen forests, Abies forests, semi-deciduous broad-leaved forests and shady places.

Flowering: May–July. 

Fruiting: October–December.

Erect shrubs to 1 m.  Stems terete or angular, without prickles, densely branched. Branches straight or slightly zigzag. Petioles 3–8 mm, wings ca. 0.5 mm wide, non-clasping tendrils absent.  Leaves lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, 3–14 x 1–5.5 cm, base obtuse or truncate, apex acuminate or caudate, costae 5, trinerved. Inflorescence a solitary umbel, prophylls absent, receptacle globular, pedicel 0.7–1 cm, peduncle 1.3–2.5 cm, bracts ovate, 3–4 mm, bracteoles rarely present, lanceolate, ca. 3 mm, male umbels 3–5-flowered, female 2–4-flowered. Staminate flowers: perianth whorls dimorphic, purple, outer tepals ovate, ca. 2 x 1.5 mm, inner tepals lanceolate, ca. 1 x 1 mm, stamens 6, inserted, 1.5 mm, filaments connate at base, ca. 0.5 mm long, anthers white, globose, ca. 0.4 mm. Pistillate flowers larger than staminate flowers, purplish green, outer ovate ca. 3.5 x 1.5 mm, inner almost ovate ca. 3.5 x 1.25 mm, staminodes 2, ovary globose, stigmas 3.  Berries black at maturity, globose, 5–7 mm in diam.  Seeds 1–3.

Distribution: Nepal, E. Himalaya, Assam-Burma and S Asia.

Elevation ranges: 1,600–4,000 m.

Ecology: Temperate broad-leaved forests.

Flowering: May–July. 

Fruiting: August–December.

 Smilax minutiflora can be distinguished by its erect habit, densely branched, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate leaves and small purplish green flowers.

Smilax myrtillus var. rigida Noltie; S. rigida Wall. ex Kunth.

Erect shrubs, 40 cm to 1.5 m. Stems quadrangular or terete, with long, straight prickles, densely branched. Branches straight, angular and prickly. Petiole 0.5–1 mm, upper petiole less than 0.5 mm, wings 1.5–4 mm wide, triangular, non-clasping tendrils absent. Leaves mostly ovate, sometimes elliptic and lanceolate 1.3–2.8 x 0.8–2.6 cm, base truncate, sometimes slightly cordate, apex notched outwards, acuminate, costae 5, trinerved. Inflorescence a solitary umbel, prophylls absent, receptacle reniform, peduncle 3–7 mm, bracts ovate, ca. 2 mm long, bracteoles lanceolate, ca. 2.5 mm long, pedicel 1.5–3 mm, male umbels 3–6-flowered, female 2–4-flowered. Staminate flowers: perianth whorls equal, yellowish green, almost elliptic, ca. 3 x 1.5 mm, stamen 6, equal in length, filament ca. 1.5 mm, connate at base, anthers white, globose, less than 0.5 mm. Pistillate flowers: tepals ovate-elliptic, ca. 2 x 1–1.5 mm, staminodes 6, ovary globose, stigmas 2. Berries orange red at maturity, globose, 0.5–1 mm diam. Seeds 1 or 2.

Distribution: Nepal, E Himalaya, Tibetan Plateau, Assam Burma and E Asia.

Altitudinal range: 1,800–3,000 m.

Ecology: Temperate broad-leaved forests and disturbed forests.

Flowering: March–July.

Fruiting: October–November.

Smilax munita is characterized by its dense branching, ovate leaves with sessile to sub-sessile petiole and long straight prickles in stem and branches. It shows close resemblance with S. myrtillus (a doubtful species in Nepal) and is mostly misidentified due to its similarities in being erect shrub and its sessile to subsessile leaves but differs in consisting long prickles which is absent in S. myrtillus.

Smilax aspericaulis Wall. ex A.DC.; S. bracteata var. verruculosa (Merr.) T.Koyama; S. verruculosa Merr.

Climbing shrubs.  Stems subterete to angular, rough and warty, with straight or recurved prickles, distantly branched. Branches slightly zigzag, subterete to angular, warty and prickly. Petioles 1–2 cm, wings oblong, 1–2 mm wide,non-clasping tendrils 8–15 cm long. Leaves lanceolate-elliptic to ovate-elliptic, 4–16 x 3–9 cm, rounded at base, apex acuminate, costae 5, trinerved. Inflorescence umbellate, with 1–3 umbels, prophylls ovate, peduncles 1.5–2 cm, receptacles globose, bracts caducous, bracteoles absent, pedicels red, 1–1.5 cm, male umbels 25–30-flowered, female 15–25-flowered.  Staminate flowers: perianth whorls dimorphic, pale yellow, outer tepals oblong to lanceolate 4–5 x 1–1.5 mm, inner tepals linear, stamens 6, filaments ca. 3–5 mm long, free, anthers white, linear to oblong, ca. 1 mm.  Pistillate flowers: outer tepals ovate-lanceolate, obtuse at apex, inner linear and narrow, staminodes 3, ovary ovoid, stigma 3.  Berries purplish black at maturity, ovoid to globose, 4–6 mm in diam.  Seeds 1–3.

Distribution: Nepal, E Himalaya, Assam-Burma, E Asia and SE Asia.

Elevation ranges: 2,000–2,200 m.

Ecology: Subtropical to temperate forests. On south facing slope.

Flowering:  October–November. 

Fruiting: December–February.

Smilax aspericaulis is considered as a synonym of Smilax odoratissima due to its similarity in morphological characters such as warty stem, leaf characters, inflorescence 1-3 and floral characters. Several authors have considered both as distinct species. Further molecular study is required for its identity.

Climbing shrubs. Stems terete to subterete, with straight, conical prickles, distantly branched. Branches slightly zigzag, sparsely prickled.  Petioles 1–3 cm, wings 5–7 mm wide, inversely hastate, non-clasping tendrils 5–15 cm long.  Leaves ovate-lanceolate to ovate-oblong, 10–25 x 5–15 cm, base cuneate to rounded, apex acute to acuminate or caudate, costae 5, trinerved. Inflorescence umbellate, with 1–3 umbels, prophylls ovate, peduncles 2–6 cm, receptacles flat to subglobose, bracts ovate, 2–4 mm, bracteoles caducous, pedicels filiform to capillary, 1.5–2 cm, male umbels 30–50-flowered, female 20–40-flowered. Staminate flowers: perianth whorls dimorphic, yellowish green, outer tepals oblong to lanceolate, 3–6 x 1–2 mm, inner tepals linear, stamens 6, 7–10 mm, filaments filiform, free, 8–10 mm long, anthers creamish white, oblong, 0.5–1 mm. Pistillate flowers: perianth pinkish-green, outer tepals ovate to­ oblong, 3–4 x 0.5–1 mm, inner tepals linear, staminodes 3, ovary ovoid, stigmas 3. Berries black at maturity, ovoid to globose,5–7 mm in diam.  Seed 1–3.

Distribution: Nepal, E. Himalaya and Assam-Burma.

Elevation ranges: 100–1,500 m.

Ecology: Tropical to subtropical broad leaved forests and slopes.

Flowering: February–May.

Fruiting: May–August.

Smilax columnifera Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don; S. macrophylla Roxb.; S. retusa Roxb.; S. roxburghii Kunth.

Climbing shrubs. Stems terete or slightly rigid, sparsely prickly, distantly branched. Branches sometimes zigzag, prickles hooked downwards. Petiole 0.5–2 cm, wings 0.5–1 mm wide, triangular, non-clasping tendrils 8–9 cm long. Leaves broadly ovate to oribicular, 7–21 x 2.9–15 cm, base cuneate or truncate, apex contracted to cuspidate, costae 5 or 7, triplinerved. Inflorescence umbellate, with 1–3 umbels, prophylls ovate, peduncles 1.5–3 cm longer than pedicels, receptacles globose, bracts triangular, ca. 3 mm, bracteoles lanceolate, ca. 1.5 mm, male umbels 15–25-flowered, female 12–15-flowered. Staminate flowers: perianth whorls dimorphic, green, outer whorl lanceolate, ca. 7.5 x 2 mm, inner linear ca. 7.5 x 1 mm, recurved when blooming, stamens 6, filaments 4–6 mm long, free, anthers white, linear, ca. 2 mm. Pistillate flowers: smaller than male flower, outer tepals oblong, 4–6 x 1–1.5 mm, inner tepals linear, staminodes 3, ovary ovoid, stigma 3.   Berries red at maturity, globose, ca. 1.5 cm in diam.  Seeds 1 or 2.

Distribution: Nepal, W Himalaya, E Himalaya, Assam-Burma, S Asia, E Asia and SE Asia.

Elevation ranges: 100–2,200 m.

Ecology: Tropical to subtropical Schima-Castonopsis forests and shady gullies.

Flowering:  March–May. 

Fruiting: December–January. Smilax ovalifolia is easily recognized by its stem and branches with prickles hooked downwards, broadly ovate to oribicular leaves, non-clasping petiolar wings and greenish flowers. Young shoots of this species are consumed as vegetables.

Smilax laurifolia auct. non Willd.; S. laurina Kunth.

Robust climbing shrubs. Stems terete, with curved, conical prickles, distantly branched. Branches straight or zigzag, sparsely prickly.  Petioles 1.5–5 cm, wings broadly ovate, 1–1.5 cm wide, clasping.  tendrils 5–14 cm long. Leaves ovate to obovate or elliptic, 7–21 x 3.2–14 cm, base obtuse or truncate, apex acuminate, costae 5 or 7, tripliverved. Inflorescence branched with 7–15 umbels, prophyll ovate, peduncles 1.5–3.5 cm, receptacles globose, bracts linear, ca. 3 mm, bracteoles caducous, pedicels 0.5–1.1 cm, male umbels 20–30-flowered, female 15–25-flowered. Staminate flowers: perianth whorls dimorphic, yellowish green, outer tepals lanceolate ca. 5.5 x 2 mm and inner tepals linear ca. 5.5 x 1 mm, stamens 6, all equal in size, 6–6.5 mm, filaments free, 4–5 mm long, anthers creamish white, linear, ca. 1 mm.   Pistillate flowers: perianth green, outer tepals ovate-oblong to ovate-lanceolate, 4–5 x 1–1.2 mm, inner tepals narrow, staminodes 3, ovary ellipsoid, stigmas 3. Berries red at maturity, globose, green, ca. 1 cm diam.  Seeds 1 or 2.

Distribution: Nepal, W Himalaya, E Himalaya, Assam-Burma, S Asia, E Asia and SE Asia.

Elevation ranges: 100–3,000 m.

Ecology: Shrub lands and disturbed forests.

Flowering:  March–May.

Fruiting: August–October.

Smilax perfoliata closely resembles with S. wallichii in its leaf and stem characters. But differs from S. wallichii in having larger petiole wings that is clasping the stem.

Smilax siamensis T.Koyama.

Large climbing shrubs. Stems terete or angular, smooth, furrowed when young, recurved prickles, distantly branched. Branches weakly zigzag, sparsely prickly.  Petiole 1–5 cm, wings half ovate, 5–10 mm wide, brown papery, clasping. tendrils 5–15 cm long.  Leaves oblong-ovate, 13.5–17 × 7–11 cm, base obtuse to truncate, apex obtuse, sometimes shortly cuspidate, costae 7, triplinerved.  Inflorescence umbellate with 6–12 umbels, prophylls ovate, peduncles 2–4 cm, receptacles globular, bracts linear, 2–3 mm, bracteoles caducous, pedicels ca. 1 cm, male umbels 20–30-flowered, female 13–30-flowered. Staminate flowers: perianth whorls dimorphic, greenish yellow, outer lanceolate ca. 6 x 1 mm, inner linear ca. 7 x 0.5 mm, stamens 6, filaments thread-like, free, ca. 8 mm long, anthers creamish white linear, ca. 1.5 mm.    Pistillate flowers: smaller than male, outer tepals ovate, ca. 5 x 2 mm, inner almost lanceolate, ca. 5 x 1 mm, staminodes 3, stigmas 3. Berry red at maturity, globose, 5–10 mm in diam. Seeds 1–3.

Distribution: Nepal, E Himalaya, S Asia, Assam-Burma and SE Asia.

Elevation ranges: 300–1,500 m.

Ecology: Open woodland and riverbanks, above Churiya hills and disturbed forests.

Flowering:  February–April. 

Fruiting: August–October. Smilax prolifera closely resembles S. perfoliata but can be differentiated by its oblong­ovate leaves, usually blunt, exerted apex, number of costae and larger petiolar wings. S. prolifera has been regarded as conspecific with S. perfoliata by many authors but few others as well as molecular studies have considered both as a distinct species.

Large climbing shrubs.  Stems terete, stout, prickly and distantly branched. Branches terete, striate and with sparse, straight or recurved prickles. Petiole 1–3 cm, wings narrow, triangular, 0.5–1 cm wide, non-clasping. tendrils 5–7 cm long.  Leaves oblanceolate to lanceolate, 12–16 × 5–7.5 cm, base truncate, apex acuminate, costae 5 or 7, triplinerved.  Inflorescence branched, with 1–3 umbels, if solitary one or more rudimentary umbels always present, prophylls triangular, 7 x 7 mm, apex acuminate, peduncles 1.5–2 cm, longer than pedicels ca. 0.7 cm, receptacles reniform, bracts almost triangular, 4–5 mm, bracteoles caducous, male umbels 25–40-flowered, female 15–25-flowered.   Staminate flowers: flowers bell-shaped, perianth whorls dimorphic, green, outer whorl lanceolate 9 x 3 mm, inner linear, ca. 9 x 1 mm, stamens 6, 5–9 mm, filaments free, 6–8 mm long, anthers white, lanceolate, 1–1.5 mm. Pistillate flowers: smaller than male, light green, outer tepals lanceolate, ca. 5.5 x 2.5 mm, inner tepals linear, ca. 5 x 1 mm, staminodes 3, linear, ovary globose, stigmas 3 Berries red at maturity, globose, 4–5 mm in diam.  Seeds 1–3.

Distribution: Nepal and E Himalaya.

Elevation ranges: 1,300–2,600 m.

Ecology: Disturbed forests.

Flowering: February–April.

Fruiting: July–October.

Smilax wallichii is regarded as uncertain species by many authors due to its close resemblance with S. ocreata (a doubtful species in Nepal) in its leaf characters. It differs from S. ocreata in having non-clasping petiolar wings and light green pistillate flowers. As it is an accepted name and collected specimens from different locations of Nepal confirms the presence of S. wallichii in Nepal.

Coarse climbing shrubs. Stems terete and prickly, distantly branched. Branches zigzag, with sparse, short, recurved prickles.  Petioles 1–3 cm, wings 1–1.5 mm wide, non-clasping, tendril 3–12 cm long. Leaves broadly elliptic, 10–18 x 11–20 cm, sometimes lanceolate 4–7 x 2–3 cm, base deeply cordate, apex notched outwards, costae 5 or 7, triplinerved. Inflorescence branched, with 2 or 3 umbels, inflorescence axis zigzag, prophylls triangular, peduncles 2–3 cm, longer than pedicels 1–1.5 cm, receptacles reniform, bracts triangular, 2–5 mm, bracteoles caducous, male umbels 20–30-flowered, female 10–18-flowered. Staminate flowers: perianth whorls dimorphic, creamish white, outer whorl narrowly lanceolate ca. 7 x 2 mm, inner whorl linear, ca. 7 x 1 mm, stamens 6, 7–7.5 mm, filaments filliform, 7–9 mm long, free, anthers white, linear ca. 1.5 mm. Pistillate flowers: perianth light green, outer tepals linear, ca. 5 x 1 mm, inner tepals lanceolate ca. 5.5 x 2 mm, staminodes 3, ovary ellipsoid, stigmas 3. Berries red at maturity, globose, ca. 5 mm in diam. Seeds 1–3.

Distribution: Nepal, E Himalaya, and S Asia.

Elevation ranges: 200–1,600m.

Ecology: Subtropical evergreen forests and disturbed forests.

Flowering: February–April.

Fruiting: June–August.

Smilax elliptica Desv. ex Ham.; S. indica Burm.f.

Climbing shrubs. Stem angular, with straight conical prickles, distantly branched. Branches zigzag, angular to subterete, prickly.  Petioles 0.5–2 cm, curved below the middle, wings 0.5–1 mm wide, clasping.  tendrils 5–10 cm long. Leaves broadly elliptic to ovate-oblong, 4–10 x 2–7 cm, base rounded to truncate, apex subacute, costae 5, trinerved. Inflorescence umbellate, with 1–3 umbels, prophylls ovate, peduncles 1–2 cm, receptacles globose, bracts caducous, bracteoles small, ca. 1 mm, pedicels 1–1.5 cm long, male umbels 10–30-flowered, female 20–40-flowered. Staminate flowers: perianth whorls dimorphic, greenish white, outer tepals oblong to lanceolate, 4–5 x 0.5–1 mm, inner tepals linear, stamens 6, 4–6 mm, filaments filiform, free, ca. 4 mm long, anthers white, lanceolate, 0.5–1 mm. Pistillate flowers: smaller than male flowers, staminodes 3 or 6, ovary globose, stigmas 3. Berries red at maturity, globose, 4–6 mm in diam. Seeds 2 or 3.

Distribution: Nepal, E Himalaya, Assam-Burma, S Asia and SE Asia.

Elevation ranges: 100–1,500 m.

Ecology: Tropical to subtropical forests and disturbed forests.

Flowering:  May–October. 

Fruiting: October–March.