Smilax havanensis
Jacq.
Everglades greenbrier
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(c) Aidan Campos, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Aidan Campos
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) George D. Gann, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) George D. Gann, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Summary
Source: WikipediaSmilax havanensis, known as the everglades greenbrier, is a plant species native to Cuba, the Cayman Islands, Bahamas, Turks & Caicos, and southern Florida. Smilax havanensis is a perennial vine armed with prickles. Flowers are small and green, berries dark purple with a waxy coating. Aprostocetus smilax, an Eulophid wasp, induces galls on this species.
Description
A vine. It has prickles. The flowers are small and green. The fruit are dark purple berries. They have a waxy coating.
This description is brief — help expand it
Edible Uses
The shoots, rhizomes, and fruit are edible. The roots are traditionally used to make a soda-like drink.
Traditional Uses
The roots are used to make a soda like drink.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Distribution
It is a tropical plant.
Where It Grows
Bahamas, Caribbean, Cuba, Dominican Republic, North America, USA, West Indies,
Also Known As
Alambrillo, Sarsaparrilla
References (1)
- Kermath, B. M., et al, 2014, Food Plants in the Americas: A survey of the domesticated, cultivated and wild plants used for Human food in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. On line draft. p 810
