| Title | "Smilax bona-nox" - Saw Greenbriar |
| Origtitle | "Smilax bona-nox" |
| Variants | Saw Greenbriar |
| Source | USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA NRCS. Wetland flora: Field office illustrated guide to plant species. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. |
| Date | Unspecified |
| URL | http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=SMBO2&photoID=smbo2_004_avd.tif |
| Creator | NRCS National Wetland Team |
| Type | Line Drawing |
| Copyright | None |
| Origin | Internet |
This is almost certainly a species of Smilax (catbrier, green-brier). Medsger, 1966, p. 198 writes: “China Brier, or Lon-Stalked Greenbrier, Smilax pseudo-china. Found in dry or sandy soil from Southern New Jersey to Kansas, south to Florida and Texas. The starchy tuberous roots were ground fine by the Indians, then water was added and the whole strained through a basket. When the water was evaporated, a fine reddish meal remained. According to Bartram, “A small quantity of this, mixed with warm water and sweetened with honey, when cool, becomes a beautiful delicious jelly, very nourishing and wholesome. They also mix it with corn flour, which being fried in fresh bear’s grease, makes very good hot cakes or fritters.” ; ; Twelve species of Smilax occur in the Carolinas. Smilax bona-nox is the most likely species mentioned by the Roanoke explorers.;
Works Cited: Medsger, Oliver Perry. Edible Wild Plants (New York: Macmillan, 1964): 198.