Flora of Israel: Smilax aspera

Smilax aspera, Mediterranean Smilax, Common Smilax, Rough Bindweed, Prickly ivy,

Hebrew: קיסוסית קוצנית, Arabic: فشاغ الخشن

Scientific name:   Smilax asperan L.
Common name:   Mediterranean Smilax, Common Smilax, Rough Smilax, Prickly ivy
Hebrew name:   קיסוסית קוצנית
Arabic name:   فشاغ الخشن
Family:   Liliaceae, שושניים

Life form:   Phanerophyte, shrub
Spinescence:   Emergences
Leaves:   Alternate, entire
Flowers:   Cream, white
Flowering Period:   October, November, December, January
Habitat:   Mediterranean maquis and forest
Distribution:   Mediterranean Woodlands and Shrublands, Montane vegetation of Mt. Hermon
Chorotype:   Mediterranean
Summer shedding:   Perennating


Derivation of the botanical name:

Smilax, Greek for clasping.

aspera, rough.
The Hebrew name: קיסוסית, kissosit, formed from קיסוס, kissos [Greek kissos (= ivy)] with suffix ית, it .

  • The standard author abbreviation L. is used to indicate Carl Linnaeus (1707 – 1778), a Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist, the father of modern taxonomy.

See the list of Medicinal herbs in Israel, the parts used and their medical uses to treat various diseases.