Greenbrier Vines: Southeastern "Sarsparilla" Vine

(smilax vine found at wikimedia commons under creative commons)

There are 300-350 species of this particular vine  but we find one major kind here in the South known as the Cow vine. This smilax (latin name) known as Greenbrier and was used as an ingredient in root beer called "Sarsaparilla".  It was used in the production of Root beer and gives it a licorice type taste. The plant has edible properties but isn't.

The Native Americans from South America and North America will eat the newly budded tops of the plant which favors the taste of asparagus. The berries are edible but they are rather rubbery and has a large seed in the center.

During the winter time when there's no forage for deer, birds or other small critters. They will munch on the dried berries. White tailed deer and small birds find the taste quite flavorful.