Close-up views:

The young plant:

In Singapore, another botanical name Smilax bracteata is also used on this vine by some folks. In the book titled "The Concise Flora of Singapore Volume II: Monocotyledons" published by Hsuan Keng in 1998 (page 11), Smilax bracteata var. barbata was indicated as an illegitimate name for Smilax setosa. In the Singapore flora checklist published in 2009, only Smilax setosa was listed. More recent articles [1-2] had used the name Smilax setosa. Hence, I have keep the name of this vine as Smilax setosa.

The 5 early instar caterpillars were found on this vine. They were being guarded by Weaver Ants (Oecophylla smaragdina). Species of Erebus moth have been recorded to utilise Smilax vines as their larval host plant [2].

References:

[1] Neo L, Yee ATK, Chong KY, Tan HTW. The vascular plant flora of abandoned plantations in Singapore I: Clementi Forest. Nature in Singapore 2012;5:275-283. | Read article |

[2] Leong TM. The caterpillar and metamorphosis of Erebus ephesperis (Hubner, 1827) in Singapore (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Erebinae: Erebini). Nature in Singapore 2011;4:177-191. | Read article |