# Lanceleaf Greenbrier (*Smilax smallii*)

Lanceleaf Greenbrier is a climbing plant with long, pointy leaves. It grows in forests and can be a little prickly, making it special and unique in nature!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 2/5 · Low
- **Snaps:** 1
- **Habitat:** Forests

![Lanceleaf Greenbrier](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Smilax_maritima.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Becky, CC0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Smilax_maritima.jpg)

## Appearance

The Lanceleaf Greenbrier is a woody vine with distinctive, glossy green, lance-shaped leaves and often prickly stems. It produces small, greenish-yellow flowers and later, round, dark blue to black berries. Its vigorous climbing habit makes it visually stand out in the undergrowth.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Liliopsida
- **Order:** Liliales
- **Family:** Smilacaceae
- **Genus:** Smilax

## Interesting facts

- Despite its thorns, many animals like deer and rabbits eagerly eat its young leaves and shoots!
- Its dark, round berries are a crucial winter food for many birds when other food is scarce!
- Its sturdy vines were historically woven into tough baskets and furniture by early settlers!
- The greenbrier plant family is ancient, with fossil relatives dating back millions of years!

## Special abilities

- **Climbing Grip:** Lanceleaf Greenbrier has tough tendrils that help it latch onto other plants and structures to climb upwards towards sunlight.
- **Prickly Defense:** Lanceleaf Greenbrier has sharp thorns along its stems that help defend it from animals trying to eat its leaves.
- **Underground Powerhouse:** Lanceleaf Greenbrier has strong underground rhizomes that store energy, helping it survive fires and harsh conditions.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 100-500 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Spring_to_early_summer
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** Mild
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Eats:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Browses on young leaves and shoots.
- **Eats:** [Eastern Bluebird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-bluebird) (*Sialia sialis*) — Consumes the nutritious dark berries.
- **Pollinates:** Honeybee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits its small, nectar-rich flowers.
- **Shelter:** [Carolina Wren](https://www.snappit.app/explore/carolina-wren) (*Thryothorus ludovicianus*) — Nests and hides in its dense, prickly thickets.

## Traits

- [Climbing/Vine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/climbing-vine): Climbing or vine plants are characterized by a growth habit that allows them to ascend upwards by twining, tendrils, or adhesive roots.
- [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
- [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.
- [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
- [Spiky/Thorny](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spiky-thorny): Possessing sharp, pointed projections or spines on the body or surface.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 2/5 · Low

Don't touch the sharp leaves without an adult's help.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Lanceleaf Greenbrier?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Lanceleaf Greenbrier?

100-500 cm

### How big are the flowers on Lanceleaf Greenbrier?

0.2-0.5 cm

### When does Lanceleaf Greenbrier bloom?

Spring_to_early_summer

### Is Lanceleaf Greenbrier edible?

Yes

### Is Lanceleaf Greenbrier toxic?

Mild

### What is Lanceleaf Greenbrier's lifecycle?

Perennial

### How is Lanceleaf Greenbrier pollinated?

Insect

## Where to spot

- [Bottle Creek Indian Mounds](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bottle-creek-indian-mounds) — Alabama, US · Historic Site

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Lanceleaf Greenbrier: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lanceleaf-greenbrier)