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Wild Sarsaparilla

11 years ago

I have Wild Sarsaparilla growing all over my woods.

Is there any use for them and can I make Sarsaparilla with the roots?

They are very very thorny and some where taking over trees in the main yard.Ouch.....

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Comments (7)

lycopus
11 years ago
The native North American "wild sarsaparilla" doesn't have thorns and doesn't climb trees. Are you by chance referring to a species of greenbrier (Smilax spp.)?
pdsavage
Original Author
11 years ago
Took a pic.
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lycopus
11 years ago
Looks like Smilax rotundifolia. Supposedly the young shoots are edible but you would want to confirm the identity before using it for food.
jimbobfeeny
11 years ago
Are greenbrier berries edible? We have tons of greenbrier at our farm climbing some wild cherry trees, and those clusters of berries look remarkably enticing.
kaliaman
11 years ago
this thread underscores the wisdom of referring to plants by their botanical names rather than their common/colloquial ones : )
pdsavage
Original Author
11 years ago
Latin names confuse me.
Thank you everyone for clearing this up for me.Some of the pictures when I was trying to find out what this waswas showing it as Sarsaparilla.Thats why I called it Sarsaparilla,but now I know its a weed and will hack it down in the front.
I will leave it alone in the woods though.
kaliaman
11 years ago
the problem with common names is that they often refer to more than one plant and the plant it refers to may vary widely from place to place.

each plant has a unique latin name that refers to it and no other...so everyone in the world can know which plant you are referring to when you state its latin name.

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