Smilax laurifolia
| Smilax laurifolia | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 8 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Evergreen Cross Pollinated | |
| Blooms: | Mid Summer-Late Summer |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Smilax laurifolia (common name: laurel greenbrier)
Propagation: Seed - sow March in a warm greenhouse[1]. This note probably refers to the tropical members of the genus, seeds of plants from cooler areas seem to require a period of cold stratification, some species taking 2 or more years to germinate[K]. We sow the seed of temperate species in a cold frame as soon as we receive it, and would sow the seed as soon as it is ripe if we could obtain it then[K]. When the seedlings eventually germinate, prick them out into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first year, though we normally grow them on in pots for 2 years. Plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer.
Division in early spring as new growth begins[2]. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.
Cuttings of half-ripe shoots, July in a frame[2].
Cultivation: Succeeds in most soils in sun or semi-shade[3].
This species is not very hardy in Britain[1]. It succeeds outdoors in S.W. England, but even there it is best when grown against a wall[4].
The fruit takes two growing seasons to ripen[5].
Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.
Range: South-eastern N. America - New Jersey to Florida and Texas.
Habitat: Swamps and low ground[6]. Moist woods and thickets[5].
Edibility: Root - cooked[7][8][9]. Rich in starch[10][11], it can be dried and ground into a powder to be used as a flavouring in soups etc or for making bread[12]. The root can be up to 15cm thick[5].
Young shoots - cooked. Used as an asparagus substitute[7][10][8][9].
Medicinal: The stem prickles have been rubbed on the skin as a counter-irritant to relieve localised pains, muscle cramps and twitching[13].
A tea made from the leaves and stems has been used in the treatment of rheumatism and stomach problems[13].
The wilted leaves are applied as a poultice to boils[13].
A tea made from the roots is used to help the expelling of afterbirth[13]. Reports that the roots contain the hormone testosterone have not been confirmed, they might contain steroid precursors, however[13].
The root bark is astringent and slightly tonic[12]. An infusion of the root bark has been used as a wash in treating burns, sores and pox[12].
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
In Leaf: Evergreen
Flower Type: Dioecious
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
- ↑ Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Britton, Nathaniel and Addison Brown. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada. Dover Publications, 1970.
- ↑ Lyndon, Merritt. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co, 1950.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Kavasch, Barrie. Native Harvests. Vintage Books, 1979.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Yanovsky, Elias. Food Plants of the North American Indians Publication 237. US Department of Agriculture.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Moerman, Daniel. Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press, 1998.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 Foster, Steven and Billy Tatum. Medicinal Plants of Eastern and Central North America. Houghton Mifflin, 1990.