Kokina (Ruscus aculeatus L.)

Kokina, is a term used for bouquets sold primarily during the Christmas season by florists for decorative purposes. These bouquets are made by combining the red fruits of Smilax excelsa with the spiny green shoots of a plant known as tavşanmemesi (Ruscus aculeatus L.), and are then marketed under the name “kokina”.

^{Visual of Kokina for Sale (}Pexels⁾

The plant referred to as “tavşanmemesi” in this arrangement is scientifically known as Ruscus aculeatus L. Although its classification has varied across different taxonomic systems, in current systematic classification it is placed within the Asparagaceae family. Species of Ruscus are perennial evergreen shrub-like plants with rhizomes underground; small flowers and subsequent orange-red fruits develop on flattened photosynthetic structures resembling leaves, known as cladodes. Four Ruscus species are native to Türkiye’s flora, and R. aculeatus is known to occur in various regions including the Black Sea, Mediterranean, and Aegean. Common folk names for the species and genus include “tavşanmemesi”, “tavşan kirazı”, and “silcan”.

The plant used in the production of “kokina” bouquets sold during the Christmas season is predominantly Ruscus aculeatus L., characterized by its green spiny cladodes. In current classification, it is a member of the genus Ruscus within the Asparagaceae family. It is classified as a monocotyledonous plant, and its distinguishing feature is that the function of classical leaves has largely been taken over by flattened, green, photosynthetic shoots called cladodes. Consequently, the structures that appear as “leaves” in Ruscus are botanically more accurately described as modified shoots rather than true leaves.

^{Kokinis Prepared for Christmas (}Anadolu Ajansı⁾

In terms of life form, R. aculeatus exhibits an evergreen, multi-stemmed appearance above ground, while forming thick, creeping rhizomes underground that establish a long-lived structure. These rhizomes serve as storage organs, playing a decisive role in the plant’s survival under adverse conditions and its annual production of new shoots. Due to these characteristics, the species is also described as a geophyte, based on the subterranean location of its storage organs.

The renewal of shoots from buds on the rhizome and vegetative spread constitute an important mechanism for population continuity. In R. aculeatus, cladodes are not limited to photosynthesis; flowering and fruiting also predominantly occur on these structures. Small flowers may develop at the center of the cladodes, followed by orange-red fruits. It is known that the species can adapt to shade and partial shade conditions, with its rhizome-provided storage capacity and water balance traits jointly contributing to its resilience.

Kokina bouquets derive their red fruit component primarily from Smilax excelsa L. This species is a climbing plant belonging to the Smilacaceae family, with spiny stems that can grow up to 20 meters in length. Its leaves are typically heart-shaped and its fruits are spherical. In practice, the fruits of Smilax excelsa are attached to the shoots of Ruscus aculeatus to form the red component of kokina bouquets.

Ruscus aculeatus (tavşanmemesi/çalı süpürgesi) is an evergreen plant that produces multiple shoots from rhizomes and exhibits a shrub-like appearance. Its height typically ranges from 25 to 80 cm, though it can reach up to 100 cm under favorable conditions. The structures that appear as “leaves” are largely cladodes—flattened, photosynthetic shoots—while true leaves are reduced to small, scale-like bracts. Cladodes are usually dark green, firm in texture, and terminate in a spine-like tip; this firmness and spine-like apex are prominent morphological features used to identify the species.

The flowers are small and develop on a tiny structure at the center of the upper surface of the cladodes; the perianth appears in greenish-white tones, with purplish hues also recorded in male flowers. Since the species is mostly dioecious (with separate male and female individuals), fruiting occurs only on female plants. The fruit is a spherical berry borne on the cladode, varying in color from orange-red to bright red, with a diameter reported in sources as approximately 5–14 mm.

^{Visual of Ruscus aculeatus L. (}Flickr⁾

The timing of flowering and fruiting varies according to region and climate, with flowers capable of blooming from late autumn through spring; in some areas, this period extends into early summer. However, the bright red fruits commonly seen in “kokina” bouquets sold during the Christmas season are typically not naturally produced by Ruscus aculeatus, but are instead artificially attached to its shoots, usually from Smilax excelsa. As a result, the commercial appearance of the bouquet can be mistaken for the plant’s natural fruiting characteristics.

The red fruits used in the bouquet are spherical fruits produced on the climbing plant Smilax excelsa. The characteristic “red-spotted” appearance of kokina bouquets results from attaching these fruits to the shoots of Ruscus.

Kokina is not botanically the product of a single habitat; its components are selected from two distinct plant species that grow under different ecological conditions in nature.

• Ruscus species possess evergreen cladode structures and perennial rhizome-based life strategies that make them suitable for use as cut greenery. Their tolerance to shade and competitive ability are also emphasized traits in landscape applications.

• Smilax excelsa is described as a climbing species primarily distributed in the Northern Anatolian/Black Sea region. In kokina production practices, the collection of its red fruits and their incorporation into bouquets exemplify the economic and cultural uses of the species.

In Türkiye, the term “kokina” refers not to a single botanical species but to a decorative bouquet sold during the Christmas season. This arrangement is composed of green shoots of Ruscus aculeatus (tavşanmemesi) and red fruit elements known as “silcan” or “sincan”. The public visibility of kokina has increased significantly throughout December via florist stalls, Christmas markets, and street vendors. The bouquet’s red color and seasonal nature have endowed it with the status of a “New Year ornament”; in folk narratives, it is associated with themes of “abundance, luck, and fortune”. Some traditions hold that if the kokina retains its freshness throughout the year, wishes will be granted or a home will be acquired. Thus, kokina has acquired a symbolic function tied to the ideas of year-end renewal and rebirth.

The cultural circulation of kokina has not been limited to consumption; the labor of preparation and its production network have also become part of popular narratives. In Istanbul-based examples, kokina production has been largely carried out within Romani communities through the transmission of knowledge and craftsmanship. Green shoots are collected from nearby forested or mountainous areas weeks before New Year’s, and by November the red fruits are gathered and tied onto the shoots with string to form bouquets. The term “kokina” is said to derive from the Romani language, meaning “red”; some Romani producers have stated that their knowledge of kokina use was historically learned from Istanbul’s Greek community. Thus, kokina has become a seasonal urban ritual object for urban populations with no direct connection to plant cultivation, representing the transformation of wild-harvested materials into crafted goods through labor.

In countries such as Greece, Italy, and Türkiye, folk beliefs have been documented attributing protective (apotropaic) properties to red-fruited branches. In the Turkish context, kokina serves as a symbolic link to nature for individuals disconnected from the natural environment; it is continually reproduced in collective memory through street vendors, Christmas markets, and media representations.

^{Kokinis Prepared for Sale (}Anadolu Ajansı⁾

The second dimension of kokina’s “use” is linked to the cut greenery and ornamental plant trade. Ruscus species are widely used not only as outdoor landscape plants but also as cut greenery in floral arrangements; some studies have also mentioned medicinal and cosmetic applications. The fact that the green component of kokina bouquets is Ruscus demonstrates its integration into cut greenery supply chains. At the same time, it has been emphasized that naturally occurring Ruscus species in Türkiye’s flora are sometimes harvested unsupervised from the wild and sold on the market.

This situation has raised concerns about the potential pressure that wild harvesting for cut greenery—including kokina production—may exert on natural populations. It has highlighted the ecological importance of approaches such as conservation of genetic resources, monitoring, and, where possible, cultivation and production to meet demand. In this context, kokina simultaneously embodies a New Year symbol in popular culture and serves as a clear example of the ecological and sustainability debates surrounding the harvesting methods and market circulation of botanical materials.

Ruscus aculeatus, also known as “tavşanmemesi”, has been assessed for conservation; it is listed as “Least Concern” in the IUCN (2011) Red List. However, the species has been subject to overharvesting in certain regions, with localized population declines in Eastern Europe linked to intensive collection. In response, some countries have implemented specific conservation and regulatory measures; for example, in Bulgaria harvesting is legally controlled, while in Romania the species is legally protected under “natural monument” status. The IUCN assessment notes that climate change and invasive species may pose future threats, but currently the species is not considered under serious threat at a global scale.

In the Turkish context, the practice associated with kokina arrangements involves harvesting the shoots of Ruscus aculeatus from the wild, particularly during the Christmas season, and attaching red fruits of Smilax to these shoots for sale as bouquets. This usage places the species within a seasonal supply chain tied to urban consumption. Therefore, variables such as the quantity of harvested shoots and the continuity of harvesting sites may be considered important factors requiring local monitoring of population status and evaluation of harvesting practices against sustainability principles.