common greenbrier
Smilax rotundifolia
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Form & Habitat
common greenbrier form and habitat common greenbrier form and habitat common greenbrier form and habitat
Leaves
common greenbrier leaves common greenbrier leaves common greenbrier leaves common greenbrier leaves (underside)
Twigs
common greenbrier twigs common greenbrier twigs common greenbrier twig/vine
Bark
Flowers
common greenbrier flower buds
Fruit
common greenbrier fruit (immature)
  • FAMILY: SMILACACEAE
  • ALTERNATE COMMON NAME:
  • LEAVES: tardily deciduous; 2 to 6 inches long, 1 to 6 inches wide; round with abruptly pointed tip; green on both sides, with a shiny lower surface
  • FLOWER: March to May; axillary, inconspicuous
  • FRUIT: black berry with a bloom; ripens in first year; 1-3 seeds; peduncle slightly longer than petiole
  • TWIGS:
  • BARK:
  • FORM: high-climbing vine; cane is round or four-angled; no spines at nodes
  • HABITAT: deciduous woods, moist thickets
  • WETLAND DESIGNATION: Facultative (FAC): Occurs in wetlands or non-wetlands of the Atlantic and Gulf Coast Plain Region
  • RANGE: southeast US
  • USES: applies to the genus: important deer, cattle, and rabbit browse; stems are 5-10% of deer diet; wood ducks, turkey, song birds eat berries
    • Best Recognition Features:
    1. large leaves with abruptly pointed tips
    2. shiny green lower surface
    3. no spines at nodes

    COMMENTS: This is a difficult genus, with at least 8 species in Louisiana, 15 to 20 species in the southeastern US, and 21 to 24 species in the US.
    LSU School of Renewable Natural Resources

    School of Renewable Natural Reources    		 Louisiana Plant Identification and Interactive Virtual Tours
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    page revised: 26-Jun-2019 1:14 PM  msb    		 LSU AgCenter

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