Wild Vining Plants With Thorns in Kansas

Smilax Hispida

• Smilax hispida (S. tamnoides L.), commonly known as sarsaparilla plant, bristly greenbrier or catbrier, is native to the eastern half of the United States and Ontario, Canada. It can be found growing naturally in the eastern half of Kansas. This deciduous woody vine grows to between 20 and 40 feet long with bristly thorns covering its stems. Its 2- to 5-inch-long, heart-shaped or elongated leaves are medium to dark green or pale gray-green. This is a dioecious vine, which means there are separate male and female plants. Both males and females produce tiny green flowers in late spring. If there is a male growing near the female for pollination, the female vines produce berries that ripen to bluish-black in late summer or autumn. Bristly greenbrier is listed on the USDA Threatened and Endangered list as a species of special concern in Connecticut.

Smilax Bona-Nox

• Smilax bona-nox, commonly called saw greenbrier, bullbrier and cowvine, is similar to S. hispida. It is found growing only in the most southeastern corner of Kansas in the counties of Bourbon, Cherokee, Crawford, Labette and Wilson. This type of greenbrier is an evergreen or semi-evergreen vine with thorns on the lower parts of the stems. It can grow to as long as 26 feet, often growing into the tops of trees. Its leaves grow to a length of 4½ inches and width of 4 inches. The leaf can have a triangular or heart shape, or it can have three lobes in a rounded triangular formation. This greenbrier's leaf is light to medium green and sometimes has lighter green mottling. This vine is also dioecious, producing green flowers from early to late spring. Pollinated female plants will produce black 1/4-inch berries.

Human Use

• Rhizomes or tuberous roots of Smilax vines are used to make the beverage sarsaparilla. This refreshment of the Old West is believed to have medicinal qualities. In the past, it was used for a variety of medicinal purposes. It still is believed to be particularly useful for relief from rheumatism. The rhizomes can be made into jelly. Settlers and Native Americans ate the rhizomes like potatoes. They were also used to make bread or consumed as mush. The roots were used to make brown dye and were made into smoking pipes. Young tender leaves, shoots and vine tendrils of S. hispida are safe for human consumption; you can add them to salads. The young stems are also cooked similar to asparagus. Smilas seeds were used as beads or Indian coral.

Wildlife Use

• Smilax vines form thickets that are utilized by wildlife for food and protection. Animals eat the berries; they are especially attractive to birds. Deer browse on the leaves and shoots. Both wild and domesticated farm animals dig up and eat the roots.