Good News at Arlington's Turkey Hill: Native greenbriar is thriving

In late summer the ArMI sounded an alarm at Turkey Hill (Arlington). A large black swallow-wort patch has been expanding at the water-tank top of the Gay St. Trail: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/90784659 We now have good news about the other end of the trail, at Gay St.

Native Roundleaf Greenbriar (Smilax rotundifolia) is forming abundant wild-life habitat. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/100065401 . Smilax rotundifolia is a green, crawling vine with spaced out thorns that can tangle within itself and other plants, and climb with small tendrils. It does not endanger mature trees, as Oriental bittersweet does. The open, tangled vines allow light to permeate the shelter beneath, forming a protective canopy for nesting birds and small mammals.

Smilax rotundifolia is a very important food plant in the winter when there are more limited food choices. Examples of wildlife that eat the berries and leaves in the late winter and early spring are Northern Cardinals, white-throated sparrows, white-tailed deer, and rabbits.

The human palate enjoys roundleaf greenbrier as well. Young shoots and uncurled leaves and tendrils can be eaten raw or cooked. The young shoots are reported to be excellent when cooked like asparagus. [6] The young leaves and tendrils can be prepared like spinach or added directly to salads.[6] The roots have a natural gelling agent in them that can be extracted and used as a thickening agent.

Greenbriar adds resilience to a woodland, as it vigorously regrows after a fire, yet regains a proper balance when the woodland's regrowth catches up.

1. Peterson, L. A. (1977). Edible Wild Plants. Houghton Mifflin Company. p. 198.

Posted on 02 de novembro de 2021, 06:49 PM by ecrow