Smilax rotundifolia
| Smilax rotundifolia | |
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| File:Smilax rotundifolia 8.JPG | |
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S. rotundifolia
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| Binomial name | |
| Smilax rotundifolia |
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Smilax rotundifolia, known as roundleaf greenbrier[2] and common greenbrier, is a woody vine native to the eastern and south-central United States and to eastern Canada.[1][3][4] It is a common and conspicuous part of the natural forest ecosystems in much of its native range. The leaves are glossy green, petioled, alternate, and circular to heart-shaped. They are generally 5–13 cm long. Common greenbriar climbs other plants using green tendrils growing out of the petioles.[5]
The stems are round and green and have sharp spines. The flowers are greenish, and are produced from April to August. The fruit is a bluish black berry that ripens in September.[5]
Cultivation and uses
Common greenbriar grows in roadsides, landscapes, clearings and woods. In clearings it often forms dense and impassable thickets.[5] It grows throughout Eastern North America from Nova Scotia in the east, to as far north as Ontario and Illinois, south to Florida and as far west as Texas.[5]
The young shoots of common greenbriar are reported to be excellent when cooked like asparagus.[6] The young leaves and tendrils can be prepared like spinach or added directly to salads.[6] The roots have a natural gelling agent in them that can be extracted and used as a thickening agent.[6]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map
- ↑ Flora of North America Vol. 26 Page 476 Common greenbrier or catbrier, bullbrier, horsebrier Smilax rotundifolia Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 1030. 1753.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
