''Smilax bona-nox'', the saw greenbrier, is a species of plant in the family

Smilacaceae Smilacaceae, the greenbriers, is a family of flowering plants. While they were often assigned to a more broadly defined family Liliaceae, most recent botanists have accepted the two as distinct families, diverging around 55 million years ago dur ...

. It is native to the

Southern United States The Southern United States (sometimes Dixie, also referred to as the Southern States, the American South, the Southland, or simply the South) is a geographic and cultural region of the United States of America. It is between the Atlantic Ocea ...

, and eastern Mexico.

Description

''Smilax bona-nox,'' also known as saw greenbrier, is a flowering vine that is prickly with a one-seeded fruit. This plant needs full sun but can also survive in partial shade. It prefers moist soil but is tolerant of numerous soil types. They are commonly found in wooded disturbed areas. S''milax bona-nox'' is dioecious, meaning it is either male or female. Smilax_bona-nox_rhizomes

''Smilax bona-nox'' produces fruits, one seeded drupes, that are dispersed by animals.Fruits are black and blue in color. The fruits are edible to humans and wildlife. Fruit harvest is during the fall and summer months. Bullbriar, Catbriar, Dunes Saw Greenbrier, Greenbriar, Streychberry Vine, and Tramp's Trouble are common names for ''Smilax bona-nox''.

Distribution

''Smilax bona-nox'' ranges across much of the eastern part of the U.S. It is distributed as far south as southern Florida, west to the edge of Texas and eastern Mexico, north to Maryland, Kentucky and southern parts of Indiana and Illinois, Missouri and Southeastern Kansas. ''Smilax bona-nox'' also occurs in Bermuda and Mexico. ''Smilax bona-nox'' are dispersed by being eaten and passed by wildlife. Mainly small animals and songbirds partake in their fruits but they are also eaten by deer and black bears.

Cultivation

''Smilax bona-nox is'' easy to grow by seed, and should be grown near lattice work or near something it can climb. This is a climbing plant that needs something to hold on to. It should also be given plenty of room as it will grow quickly and will shade other plants.

Ethnobotany

''Smilax bona-nox'' has many uses. The leaves of this plant were used for cigarette wrappers by the Native Americans. The roots can be used not only to make bread but also as medicines. The roots of this plant are known to help urinary tract infections and as an antioxidant.

Edibility

''Smilax bona-nox'' is edible whether cooked or not. If cooked, the roots can be made into gelatin if grounded into a powder. Younger shoots are edible raw or cooked. The fruits are also edible; they are black and blue.

Control

''Smilax bona-nox'' can be controlled with herbicides but has been known to adapt to the effects of it. It has also been known to not be affected at all. Some herbicides have been known to also help it grow instead of causing it to die. ''Smilax bona-nox'' can also be controlled by fire but it returns due to respiration.

Wildlife

Many animals use the fruit of ''Smilax bona-nox'' as food, including wood ducks, ruffed grouse, wild turkey, fish crows, black bears, opossums, raccoons, squirrels, and multiple species of songbirds. Both the leaves and fruit are occasionally eaten by white-tailed deer. The leaves and growth of the plant are used for shelter for smaller mammals. It is used to help smaller mammals to hide from both larger mammals and predator birds. The prickles on the plant are for protection from larger herbivores.

Fire ecology

The ''Smilax bona-nox'' is tolerant to the occasional control burns and natural fires. Because they have rhizomes under ground, they can still sprout even when they have lost the tops of their plants. Corn-like forms can grow along with their rhizomes.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q7544549 Smilacaceae Flora of North America Plants described in 1753 Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus