Saw Greenbrier Scientific Name: Smilax Bona-Nox Order

Common Name: Saw Greenbrier

Scientific Name: Smilax bona-nox

Wetland Plant Status: Facultative

Ecology & Description Saw greenbrier is shrubby vine this is a warm season perennial plant. The native deciduous plant supports long, heart-shaped leaves that fall during the fall and winter months and bloom in late winter and early spring. The stems are climbing with tendrils and tend to form thick, intertwined mottles that cannot be penetrated by livestock. Whether there is full sunlight or full shade, this vine is capable of exceeding 20 feet in length.

Habitat Saw greenbrier occurs in dry, wet woods and thickets. It enjoys disturbed sites such as clear cuts, fencerows and fields that obtain a wide variety of soils such as rocky soils, loams and saturated swamp soils with a high organic matter content.

Distribution Saw greenbrier exists throughout the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain, ranging from Texas to Indiana and from Virginia to Florida.

Native/Invasive Status Saw greenbrier is native to the lower 48 states in the United States. It is, however, also considered to be invasive in some areas.

Wildlife Uses This species is attractive to bees, butterflies and different species of birds. By animal dispersed seeds, site characteristics of saw greenbrier are very common along the southeast. Black bear (Ursus americanus), raccoon (Procyon lotor), wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), grouse, and several bird species feed on the fruit that remains on the plants throughout the winter. White- tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and various rabbit species will also feed on the leaves and stems during the growing season. If managing for wildlife, saw greenbrier is highly valued as a food source and cover. The tender shoots and stems make excellent forage for both wildlife and livestock at a young age. The crude protein content can be as high as 40% making it very beneficial for animal health and development. The dense cover provided by the greenbrier mottles provides superb cover for northern bobwhite and other small mammals. Saw greenbrier plays an important role for wildlife in pine plantations that are also managed for wildlife. The absence of hardwood trees such as pecan (Carya illinoinensis) and many oak species makes the small vine a very sought after food source.

Management & Control Techniques Saw greenbrier is controlled by prescribed fires. Prescribed burning has been suggested to benefit the desired densities for wildlife habitat and to improve its browse value.. Saw greenbrier can also be controlled by mowing when the terrain permits, or can also be hand-cut when it is confined to a small area.

References Bodner, Ted, James H. Miller, and Karl V. Miller. "Plants Profile for Smilax Bona-nox (Saw Greenbrier)." Natural Resources Conservation Service. United States Department of Agriculture, 1999. Web. 14 Apr. 2015. Coon, Linnie. "Greenbriers." Native Shrubs in Wildlife Landscaping. West Virginia Non-game Wildlife Program, n.d. Web. 16 Apr. 2015. "Index of Species Information." Fire Effects Information Systems. USDA Forest Service, 8 Jan. 2015. Web. 15 Apr. 2015. Locke, James, and Eddie Fundergurg. Greenbrier: Identification and Management. Ardmore, OK.: Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, 2011. The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, 2011. Web. 16 Apr. 2015. "PlantFiles: Greenbrier, Cowvine Smilax Bona-nox." Dave's Garden. Internet Brands Co., 2015. Web. 14 Apr. 2015.

This document was authored by Lane Cox, School of Forestry, Louisiana Tech University, April 2015.