Smilax herbacea

Smilax herbacea is a perennial, herbaceous climbing vine in the family of Smilacaceae. It is native to eastern North America, including parts of eastern Canada and the eastern United States. It is commonly known by people as the smooth carrion flower, smooth herbaceous greenbrier, carrion vine, or as Jacob's-ladder. The species is known for being smooth in texture, and usually has thornless stems, it is a plant that can grow by climbing, and it has green colored flowers that have a foul, carrion-like odor which attracts flies and beetles for pollination. This plant grows in moist forests, savannas, meadows, and thickets, at moderate to high elevations. This allows it to serve as an understory vine (a climbing plant that grows in the forest's lower layer, beneath the main tree canopy). The plant blooms in May and June, and female individuals produce clusters of dark blue to nearly black berries later in the season. In addition to its ecological role, the species has a long history of use as both a food and medicinal plant.