Smilax is a genus of about 300–350 species, found in temperate zones, tropics and subtropics worldwide. In China for example about 80 are found (39 of which are endemic), while there are 20 in North America north of Mexico.
Smilax china L. Vines climbing. Stem branched, terete, 1--5 m, woody, sparsely prickly. Petiole 0.5--1.5 cm, narrowly winged for 1/2--2/3 its length; abscission zone just above winged portion; tendrils usually present. Leaf blade elliptic to orbicular, 3--10 * 1.5--6(--10) cm. Inflorescence borne in axil of young leaf, of 1 umbel, basally not prophyllate; peduncle 1--2 cm; umbels of both sexes 10--25-flowered, subglobose, base subglobose, 2--3 mm in diam.; bracteoles many, small. Male flowers: tepals yellowish green, 3.5--4.5 * 1.5--2.5 mm; stamens 3--4 mm; filaments filiform. Female flowers: staminodes 6. Berries red, globose, 0.6--1.5 cm in diam., minutely white powdery.

The structure of them were established as dihydrokaempferol-5-O-beta-D-glucoside (I), beta-sitosterol (II), daucosterol (III).