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Smilax glabraSmilax glabra
Smilax glabra plantSmilax glabraSmilax glabraOverview
Smilax glabra, sarsaparilla, is a plant species in the genus Smilax. It is native to China, the Himalayas, and Indochina.
Updated by lebachungtdh@gmail.com · 10/15/2026
S. glabra is a traditional medicine in Chinese herbology, whence it is also known as tufuling (土茯苓) or chinaroot, china-root, and china root (a name it shares with the related S. china). Chinaroot is a key ingredient in the Chinese medical dessert guilinggao, which uses its ability to set certain kinds of jelly.
Updated by lebachungtdh@gmail.com · 10/15/2026
Life cycle
From seed to productRhizome planting
Propagated by **rhizome**: divide healthy rhizomes into sections with 2–3 buds, trim the roots and plant in loose, moist soil.
Sprouting
Buds on the rhizome sprout, emerge from the soil and form new roots within 2–4 weeks.
Growth & flowering
The plant blooms with **small greenish-yellow flowers, May–July**; pollination is by insects and wind.
New rhizomes & harvest
Foliage dies back and reserves move into the underground storage organ; **2–3-year-old rhizomes dug in autumn–winter**.
Uses
- glabra is a traditional medicine in Chinese herbology, whence it is also known as tufuling (土茯苓) or chinaroot, china-root, and china root (a name it shares with the related S.
- Chinaroot is a key ingredient in the Chinese medical dessert guilinggao, which uses its ability to set certain kinds of jelly.
Habitat & conservation
It is native to China, the Himalayas, and Indochina.
Conservation
Smilax glabra has not been assessed by the IUCN Red List (NE). As a medicinal plant, it benefits from sustainable collection and propagation to protect wild genetic resources.
References
- 1Wikipedia – Smilax glabra — Wikipedia,
- 2Kew POWO – Smilax glabra — Plants of the World Online (Kew),
- 3Wikidata – Q3658986 — Wikidata,