Appearance
"Smilax bona-nox," also known as saw greenbrier, is a flowering vine that is prickly with a one-seeded fruit. This plant prefers 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" 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.
Habitat
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. Corm-like forms can grow along with their rhizomes.References:
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