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NAME: Greenbrier

SPECIES / FAMILY:  Smilax Rotundifolia / Smilacaceae

OTHER COMMON NAME(S):  Roundleaf greenbriar, horse briar

CONDITIONS: shade
 

PARTS:	EDIBLE	TASTE	RAW/COOK	SEASON
All
Shoots	vine tips	asparagus	RAW/COOK	Spring
Leaves		asparagus
Buds/Flowers
Fruits			RAW/COOK
Roots			DRY/COOK	Fall
Seeds
Nuts
Pods
Stalk
Bark

 

PORTION: small

 

COMMENT:  Leaf tips and young shoots, roots used in drinks, soups, and stews.  Fruit mostly seed which should be removed. Young roots can be boiled and eaten.  Dry older roots and pound into flour. (2)

 

CAUTIONS:  Pick from vines containing both thorns and tendrils only.(4) Some sources, such as PFAF.org did not list the berries as edible, but many did.  So use caution. You also may want to remove seeds from fruit.

 

NUTRITION/MEDICINAL:  Tubers high in starch & minerals; leaves & stems high assorted vitamins and minerals. (4) Birthing aid;  Poultice;  Rubefacient (1)

 

LOOK-A-LIKES:

 

POISONOUS LOOK-A-LIKES:   

 

OTHER USES:

 

SOURCE LINKS (may include nutritional and medicinal info, plus other uses):

1. https://pfaf.org/USER/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Smilax+rotundifolia 
   related - https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Smilax+glauca
   related - https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Smilax+herbacea
2. http://www.eattheweeds.com/smilax-a-brier-and-thats-no-bull
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smilax_rotundifolia 
4. http://www.foragingtexas.com/2008/08/greenbriar.html  (good photos, plus catbrier)
5. http://www.survivallandusa.com/Smilax-Rotundifolia-Common-Greenbriar-Catbriar-Edible.html
6. http://foragedfoodie.blogspot.com/2016/05/identifying-eating-smilax.html
7. https://joshfecteau.com/foraging-wild-shoots-common-greenbrier
8. https://greatoutdoordinary.com/2017/03/12/wild-edibles-greenbriar-smilax
9. https://www.picbear.org/media/ByfObNTgcBd

 

Other Smilax species:

https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Smilax+glauca Cat Greenbrier

https://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Smilax+auriculata Earleaf Greenbrier

https://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Smilax+tamnoides Bristly Greenbrier

https://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Smilax+herbacea Carrion Flower, Smooth carrionflower

https://www.pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?latinname=Smilax+bona-nox Dunes Saw Greenbrier

https://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Smilax+laurifolia Laurel Greenbrier (roots, shoots, leaftips)