The Smilacaceae family, or greenbrier family, includes around 320 species in the
two main genera, Smilax and Heterosmilax. Mostly found in tropical and
temperate regions, these climbing vines are recognized by their prickly stems and
tendrils near the leaves. Though not widely used in cooking, some Smilax species
have historical medicinal uses, notably sarsaparilla root (Conran 1998).
