Common Name: Bristly Greenbrier

General Information

Smilax tamnoides is a climbing shrubby plant producing a cluster of branching, prickly stems from a short rhizomatous rootstock; the stems can be 7 metres or more long. The plant is deciduous in the north of its range, but the leaves become more or less persistent towards the south[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for lcal use as a food and a medicine. It is sometimes grown as an ornametal in gardens.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Eastern and southeastern N. America - South Dakota to Massachusetts, south tp eastern Texas and Florida

Habitat

Wet to dry woods, thickets and bottomlands, mainly on the coastal plain, in sandy or, less often, silty clay soils; ar elevations up to 400 metres[, , ]. Rich, often calcareous, soils in woods, thickets and bottoms[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Semi-deciduous Climber
Height	7.00 m
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

At least in the north of its range, Salix tamnoides is hardy to about -15°c[].
Succeeds in most soils in sun or semi-shade[].
A very ornamental plant[], it thrives in Britain[].
A dioecious species - both male and female forms must be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Edible Uses

Leaves and young shoots - raw or cooked[].

Root - cooked. Rich in starch, it can be dried, ground into a powder and then used with cereals for making bread etc[, , , , , ]. It can also be used as a gelatine substitute[, , ].

Medicinal

The stem prickles have been rubbed on the skin as a counter-irritant to relieve localised pains, muscle cramps and twitching[].
The stems are tonic[]. A tea made from the leaves and stems has been used in the treatment of rheumatism and stomach problems[].
The wilted leaves are applied as a poultice to boils[].
A decoction of the crushed root has been used as a wash on ulcers, especially leg ulcers[]. A tea made from the roots is used to help the expelling of afterbirth[]. Reports that the roots contain the hormone testosterone have not been confirmed, they might contain steroid precursors, however[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow early spring in a warm greenhouse[]. This note probably refers to the tropical members of the genus, seeds of plants from cooler areas seem to require a period of cold stratification, some species taking 2 or more years to germinate[]. We sow the seed of temperate species in a cold frame as soon as we receive it, and would sow the seed as soon as it is ripe if we could obtain it then[]. When the seedlings eventually germinate, prick them out into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first year, though we normally grow them on in pots for 2 years. Plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer.
Division in early spring as new growth begins[]. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.
Cuttings of half-ripe shoots, July in a frame[].