Flower ID: IMG_6603.JPG-06-02-2021 Flower name (scientific): Smilax tamnoides Linnaeus PY: 1753. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) SMIL-aks (or SMI-laks or SMY-laks) tam-NOY-deez Flower name (common): Bristly Greenbrier Family name (common): Catbrier Family name (scientific): Smilacaceae Scientific name origin: Genus: From ancient Greek for a scraper, referring to the prickly stems of other species in the genus. Also, from Greek for climber, referring to the nature of the plant. Alternatively, from ancient Greek, the name of an evergreen oak. Specific epithet: From tamus for a vine and the Greek oides for like or resembling, hence vine-like. Common name origin: Bristly comes from the prickles that cover the stem. Brier is from old English with a thousand year history (with different spelling forms), used to describe prickly or thorny plants. Greenbrier is used to describe different species of the genus Smilax. Flower description: Size: 0.2 to 0.3 inches (5 to 8 mm) Petal count: 6 Color: green Other: flower arrangement, Cluster-umbel Plant description: Size: 120 to 720 inches (3 to 18 m) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is alternate, type is simple Size: Leaves up to 15 cm long and 10 to 12 cm wide. Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, ovate-lanceolate, ovate, or sometimes pandurate (FNA), oval to broadly ovate (IL) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Uncommon Bloom time (typical): May to June Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Thickets, woods, forests, shade or semi-shade, moist to dry soil. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): No close lookalikes. The needle-like prickles on the stem help to distinguish this plant from other Smilax species. Smilax pumila (Sarsaparilla Vine), Smilax glauca (Wild sarsaparilla), Smilax bona-nox (Zarzaparrilla), and several other Smilax species also have prickles on the stem, but they have not been reported in Wisconsin and are mostly observed in more southern states. Ethnobotany: The Chippewa used this plant for the purpose of malicious magic (Gilmore, p. 126, 1933). Gilmore uses the old synonym name Smilax hispida for this plant. The Choctaw utilized the plant to prepare a general tonic, and the Iroquois employed the plant for removing foreign objects from the eye and for witchcraft (Moerman, p. 534, 1998). Latitude: 44.799915 Longitude: -91.507825 Altitude: 261.40 Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Dunn, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Forest, Florence, Grant, Green, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waupaca, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, WI, WV) Click here for distribution map In Canada: (ON) Click here for distribution map References: Synonym(s): Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym: na Wetland Status (NC): Not listed Wetland Status (MW): Not listed