Smilax laurifolia L.

Laurel Leaf Greenbrier; Bamboo Vine; Blaspheme Vine

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Perennial

Vascular

Laurel Leaf Greenbrier is a native perennial evergreen vine in the Greeenbrier family (Smilacaceae). It can be found throughout most of Alabama. Laurel Leaf Greenbrier grows in swamps, in bogs, along the margins of ponds and lakes, and in wet woods. It is a perennial from a large woody tuber. Stems climb by tendrils. The stems are glabrous, 20-30 feet in length, and armed with dark prickles. The stems are at first green in color and become black with age. Leaves are lance elliptic in outline, entire, glabrous or minutely pubescent on the lower surface, and rounded at the base. The leaves are thick and leathery in texture and the margins are sometimes revolute. Flowers are produced in umbels from the axils of the leaves. The umbels are on peduncles that are shorter than the leaf. Flowers are yellow-green in color and have 6 tepals. The fruit is a shiny black berry. Laurel Leaf Greenbrier is the largest species of Smilax occurring in Alabama. The young, tender stems of Laurel Leaf Greenbrier can be cooked and eaten like asparagus or chopped and added to salads.—A. Diamond

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Native FACW+ (NWPL)

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