Okay, I've left this thorny vine with berries thinking that it might be bird food, or food for some critter. But no takers. I think it's some sort of briar or maybe smilax? I'm just a freak for wild stuff and have a hard time getting rid of anything in case it is useful for something. LOL
So thought maybe some of you have dealt with this vine. Do you get rid of it, like asap or what?
This is what it looked like in October.
I think the vine you have is Smilax bona-nox,
http://wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=SMBO2
It is supposed to be food for wildlife, probably you have other foods they like better and that is why they haven't eaten it, but when they run out of the other foods they will eat it.
I wouldn't pull it out if it is not in a place where it could do harm, and if you like it there.
Josephine.
Thank you Josephine. That does appear to be what I have. there have been so many birds around lately, I was surprised none were taken to those berries. Glad to know they are a food source, so they will stay!!!
We have those vines at the wildscape where I volunteer and all the berries get eaten, but we do cut the vines down where they are close to the paths so as to keep people from being injured.
By the way, there are 12 different species of Smilax that are native to Texas, but this one seems to be the most prevalent around here.
Josephine.
How wonderful to volunteer at a wildscape, sounds fun. This vine is on a hill and out of the way, although it is the view from my bedroom! I did a little research on Smilax bona-nox and came across this site. Very interesting plant with edible and medicinal qualities. I so enjoy learning about the qualities of wild plants. Glad I asked about it.
www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Smlax+bona-nox
They are capable of forming thick thorny walls that grow up when they come in contact with low tree branches and twine their way up. The thorns are recurved so if you pull rather than back track when removing them, they'll tear your skin. Greenbriar, one of their common names, form underground tubers. Later, if you should decide to remove it, greenbriar is relatively easy to get rid of it. Sever the stalk below soil level. You can get rid of about 90% of the vines that way. Once walls form, it's more difficult once a wall forms. Wear armor.
Thanks for that info Bettydee. A form of it grows willingly here. It is reputed to be a food source for deer also so I leave it alone unless it invades my small space. It can be wicked and is known in these parts as a "wait a minute" vine. Should you get tangled up in it you will be brought up short hollering "wait a minute".
Yes, thank you for that added information. I will keep it in check!! I have seen it growing in bunches around other areas but without berries. One day it will have leaves and the next day it's thorny spines. Guess it's the deer eating the leaves.
LOL. If it comes down to it I will wear armor and probably still be hollering "wait a minute". That is very funny, I'm going to remember that!!!
Okay so I'm out at the back of the property when I see something green growing in a tree!! Wow I think what could that be, (except a couple of cypress) all the trees are deciduous. It is this huge thorny vine.
Is this one of those other 11 species of smilax? These leaves appear less lobed but sure does look like smilax? And with this one, the branches spread out like a fan. This is one of the many branches coming off the main vine.
It has wrapped itself around this tree.
Here is the main root stem.
Yes ~ that is more of it. Aren't those thorns wicked in your last photo. Yuk!
I think this maybe the one you have, Smilax pumila
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/ornamentals/natives/shrubs/smilpumi0114.jpg
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/1190/
Or maybe this one, Smilax smallii
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=SMSM
I hope that helps you.
Josephine.
Bettydee, I've never heard Greenbriar described as easy to remove. It's everywhere here in my wooded area and I've cut it back 10 zillion times, to the ground. It just puts up 3 or more new stems. I have not cut it under the ground as you suggest, I admit, so I'll try that. The tubers get huge and are very difficult to dig up in woodland soil since they entwine with tree roots.
OMG! The thorns are tough like nails! I don't know who would negotiate this one but is sure wouldn't be me!! lol I've observed clusters of smilax since first posting here, but none looked like this one...or this enormous! Scary indeed!
Yes, I have found the roots difficult even with the small vines so I'll surely try cutting just below the soil. I'm in the woods too and they just pop right back up with friends after regular cutting.
Thank you for the link(s) Josephine, I was sure you would know more than me :)
I will watch to see what the fruit looks like since the others show red, rather than the dark purple of the bona-nox.
Cedar18 ~ I agree. I wonder if cutting below the ground surface will let it lie dormant. This was a root a friend dig up. He said it was "small" !!! http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/179421/
Podster: That's funny - 12x 8" seems pretty massive to me (the title says can BECOME massive) already. I have a forest of new stems in some areas. I'd love to leave it for wildlife but it is impossible to work around and it climbs into shrubs and trees. Does not play well with others.
LOL ~ does not play well with me either!
cedar, I remember reading the information some time ago, but now that I looked for it again, I couldn't find it. The closest I got was the Plant Answers which says if you can't dig up the large tuber, repeatedly cutting the vines below ground will eventually force it to run out of energy.
I know it doesn't play well with others or with me either. We have had quite a bit of it removed when we had some areas cleared of mesquite a few years ago. So far only a few small clumps have returned. Some trees had walls of briar climbing up into their branches. We didn't dare enter some areas because the greenbriars were so thick. If we were chasing cattle, they were safe in those areas.
This is a nasty vine that grows wild here. I do not care what eats it, it can not grow at my place if I can help it. I have dug many of the root balls up. If you do not get all of it, it returns. I have heard it called "saw briar", for a reason. The roots look like a group of soft balls glued together. Difficult to dig out. I have a shovel that has a pry bar welded to it. This allows me to dig under it and pry the root mass out. This is a time consuming job. I hate this thing.
Yes had this one as well and spent a year getting it cleared out of a back area. Previous owners had let it go so long it was a greenbriar thicket all up in the trees too. Tubers a foot diameter where a joy (NOT!) to dig out. This stuff comes up occasionally here and there on the property and behind it in a wild area. I let it grow there but had to reclaim my trees that had been taken over. Have several nice scars across my arms from clumsy mistakes while clearing out that area. Be CAREFUL - those thorns can cut you open pretty deep. It will try to come back up, resprouts easily from any small piece of root that is left. I cut it off below surface and then wait for a sprout to show its ugly head and then I do something I ordinarily wouldn't do - I apply Roundup full strength to the new shoot. Now the animals are enjoying it behind my house and that is fine with me, but it is now gone from my property.
aardvark, well, I'll try Rup that way. I too use it sparingly and found Smilax LAUGHS at it. But I can see that maybe the direct application to the open cut might at least give it a root-ache. :) Thanks for the tip. (and yes, re: caution: eye protection is in order).
