Vines that climb and twine with the help of tendrils, have net-veined leaves, produce berries and have unisexual flowers that are clustered in umbels (the stalks of each flower and berry in the cluster arise from the same point). NB has only one species, Herbaceous Carrionflower. 
Flowers are small and greenish-yellow, occur where the leaf joins the stem (axil), have a very foul odour that attracts carrion flies. Sepals and petals closely resemble one another. Stamens 6, sepals, petals, carpels, and styles 3. Berries blue to black, round, with a waxy covering (glaucous) and 3 to 6 seeds. 
Leaves are stalked, alternate and heart shaped. Main veins in the leaf converge near the end of the leaf stalk. 
Stems are non-woody (herbaceous) and annual, and lack prickles (are unarmed).

Umbels of more than 20 tiny greenish-yellow flowers

Fields, floodplains, forests, forest edges, shores of rivers or lakes, swamps, wetland edges

A climbing or trailing annual with twining stipules and unpleasant smelling flowers.
Tiny greenish yellow flowers, long-stalked, densely clustered in round umbels in axils. More than 20 flowers per umbel. Petals 3.5-5 mm long. Common name comes from unpleasant smell of flowers that attracts carrion flies as pollinators. Fruit dark blue berries with a waxy coating. Fruiting stalks flattened or circular.
Leaves alternate, oval or triangular (can be heart-shaped) with pointed or rounded tips, smooth beneath. Leaf blades 4.5-12 cm long, 3-9 cm wide. Leaf stalks 1-6 cm long.
Stems smooth; climbing or trailing with twining stipules, often branching.

tn-smilax-herbacea-sunpoke-lake-nb-1-july-2009-051-jim-goltz

TN Smilax herbacea Sunpoke Lake NB 1 July 2009 051 Jim Goltz

Smilax herbacea Sunpoke Lake NB 1 July 2009 051_Jim Goltz

Smilax herbacea-fls-Erbs Cove NB ACCDC Sean Blaney 2008-07-02

Smilax herbacea Sunpoke Lake NB 21 June 2014 136 Jim Goltz

Smilacaceae

Catbrier Family