Smilax hispida
Hag Briar
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Smilacaceae
- Genus
- Smilax
- Foliage
- deciduous
- Height
- 15 m
- Fertility
- self sterile
- Flower type
- dioecious
Uses
Edible uses
Leaves and young shoots - raw or cooked[2]. Root - cooked. It can be dried, ground into a powder and then used with cereals for making bread etc[4][9][2]. It can also be used as a gelatine substitute[4][9][2].
- Plant part
- Leaves
- Plant part
- Root
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
The stem prickles have been rubbed on the skin as a counter-irritant to relieve localised pains, muscle cramps and twitching[6]. A tea made from the leaves and stems has been used in the treatment of rheumatism and stomach problems[6]. The wilted leaves are applied as a poultice to boils[6]. A tea made from the roots is used to help the expelling of afterbirth[6]. Reports that the roots contain the hormone testosterone have not been confirmed, they might contain steroid precursors, however[6].
- Product or use
- Birthing aid
- Product or use
- Poultice
- Product or use
- Rubefacient
Ecology and functions
- Ecosystem niche
- Climber
Environment
- Range
- Eastern and Central N. America - Connecticut to Ontario, Minnesota, Nebraska, N. Carolina and Texas.
- Habitat
- Rich, often calcareous, soils in woods, thickets and bottoms[8].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 5+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
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[7]. 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[7].
Cultivation
Succeeds in most soils in sun or semi-shade[5]. Plants are hardy to about -15°c[5]. A very ornamental plant[1], it thrives in Britain[3]. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Kavasch. B. Native Harvests. Vintage Books 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-394-72811-4
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225
Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00
Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982-00-00 ISBN 0442222009