# roundleaf greenbrier (*Smilax rotundifolia*) Roundleaf greenbrier is a climbing plant with round leaves that can grow in many places. It has little green flowers and can make tasty berries that some animals love to eat! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 12 - **Habitat:** Forests ![roundleaf greenbrier](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/122344/medium.jpg) Photo: botanygirl, CC BY 4.0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/122344) ## Appearance The roundleaf greenbrier has glossy, broad, heart-to-oval shaped leaves, often with wavy edges. Its tough, woody stems are armed with sharp, dark prickles, and it produces clusters of small, greenish-yellow flowers that turn into dark blue-black berries. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Liliopsida - **Order:** Liliales - **Family:** Smilacaceae - **Genus:** Smilax ## Interesting facts - It's sometimes called "catbrier" because its thorns snag like a cat's claw. - Its berries provide a vital winter food source for many birds. - Native Americans used its strong stems to weave baskets and ties. - You can eat the young shoots in spring; they taste like asparagus! ## Special abilities - **Climbing Master:** Roundleaf greenbrier can grow long tendrils that help it climb high into trees to reach sunlight. - **Thorny Defender:** Roundleaf greenbrier has sharp, stout prickles along its stems that protect it from hungry animals. - **Survivor Roots:** Roundleaf greenbrier can regrow quickly from deep, tough underground rhizomes, even after fires or damage. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 100-500 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.4 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring-early summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Eats its nutritious berries in winter. - **Eats:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Browses on its leaves and young stems. - **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits its small flowers for nectar and pollen. - **Eaten by:** Virginia Opossum (*Didelphis virginiana*) — Consumes the energy-rich fruits. ## 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. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Thorny Stem](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/thorny-stem): Pertaining to plants that have stems covered with sharp, pointed projections for defense. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [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. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Be careful of the thorns when exploring; they can poke you! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify roundleaf 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 roundleaf greenbrier? 100-500 cm ### How big are the flowers on roundleaf greenbrier? 0.2-0.4 cm ### When does roundleaf greenbrier bloom? Spring-early summer ### Is roundleaf greenbrier edible? Yes ### Is roundleaf greenbrier toxic? Mild ### What is roundleaf greenbrier's lifecycle? Perennial ### How is roundleaf greenbrier pollinated? Insect ## Where to spot - [Battle Creek Cypress Swamp Sanctuary](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/battle-creek-cypress-swamp-sanctuary) — Maryland, US · Nature Reserve - [Cedar Brook Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cedar-brook-park) — New Jersey, US · Park - [Colonial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/colonial-park) — New Jersey, US · Park - [Rogerson's Village Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rogersons-village-historic-district) — Massachusetts, US · Historic District - [Long Island Game Farm](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/long-island-game-farm) — New York, US · Zoo - [Anderson Place Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/anderson-place-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District [View all places to see roundleaf greenbrier](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/roundleaf-greenbrier) ## 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*) --- Source: [Roundleaf Greenbrier: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/roundleaf-greenbrier)