What is the correct common name for Smilax?

Is it greenbrier or brier? Do you spell it briar or brier?

What is the correct common name for Smilax?
There is only one correct scientific name, Smilax. There is actually only one correct common name for each scientific name.





For example: Smilax glauca Walt., cat greenbrier


http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symb...





There are 26 species of Smilax. This site has the scientific name and the correct common name.


Classification for Kingdom Plantae Down to Genus Smilax L.


http://plants.usda.gov/java/Classificati...











http://www.sfrc.ufl.edu/4h/Smilax/smilax...
Reply:Since briar/brier came from the latin word bruyer it is a toss up to decided which one is the correct spelling. There is even a company by the name greenbriar/greenbrier that goes by both names.





So you can show off and claim either spellings are ok or go with the regions that spell it one way. I believe that if you first research a local newspaper, then you can decide which use is predominant in that area.





I first ran into the spelling for brier as in the brier patch tar baby but since that story is no longer pc(politically correct) the common spelling for the brier is getting more and more obscure and depending on who is insisting on the spelling you can go either way.
Reply:Sarsaparilla (1)
Reply:whats a smilax?
Reply:Green-brier. Smilax smallii=Bamboo Vine. Smilax rotundifolia=Common Green-brier. Smilax walteri=Coral Green-brier. Smilax auriculata= Catbrier. Smilax bona-nox=Green-brier

ivy