Smilax tamnoides Linnaeus, Species Plantarum 2: 1030. 1753.

"Habitat in Carolina, Virginia, Pensylvania." RCN: 7444.

Lectotype (Fernald in Rhodora 46: 38. 1944): [icon] " Smilax Bryoniae nigrae foliis caule spinosa, baccis nigris" in Catesby, Nat. Hist. Carolina 1: 52, t. 52. 1730.

Current name: Smilax tamnoides L. ( Smilacaceae).

Note: There has been much disagreement as to the identity of the type. Fernald identified it as S. tamnoides, but Clausen (in Rhodora 53: 109-111. 1951) concluded that it was a composite of several taxa, and that the name should therefore be discarded as ambiguous. Wilbur (in Sida 14: 38. 1990) supported this view, treating the woody species as S. hispida Muhl. ex. Torr. Subsequently, Wilbur (in Rhodora 105: 250-259. 2003) has provided an extensive review. He concludes that the bristly greenbriar is correctly known as S. hispida Raf. However, no formal proposal for the rejection of S. tamnoides seems to have been made.