From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :
Smilax \Smi"lax\, n. [L., bindweed, Gr. ???.] (Bot.)
(a) A genus of perennial climbing plants, usually with a
prickly woody stem; green brier, or cat brier. The
rootstocks of certain species are the source of the
medicine called sarsaparilla.
(b) A delicate trailing plant ({Myrsiphyllum asparagoides)
much used for decoration. It is a native of the Cape of
Good Hope.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) :
Smilax
n 1: sometimes placed in Smilacaceae [syn: Smilax, genus
Smilax]
2: fragile twining plant of South Africa with bright green
flattened stems and glossy foliage popular as a floral
decoration [syn: smilax, Asparagus asparagoides]