Walk through the Greenbelt

Downy carrionflower (Smilax pulverulenta) in bud. This vine is a New York State rare plant.

Meeting in SI Greenbelt this morning, walking along one of the trails, the first thing I see is the above downy carrionflower (Smilax pulverulenta), a NYS-rare vine. This is in the same genus as greenbrier & catbrier (S. rotundifolia, S. glauca), which are very common in the city, largely because they withstand disturbance so well. Downy carrionflower is herbaceous & perennial, so the whole above-ground portion of the plant dies back every winter. Here, it is bursting to bloom; looking a lot like pants' zippers after the wearer has enjoyed a particularly filling meal.

My concern was that the 3 plants I found were located along the trail, and one had already been stepped on. Imagine how resilient you would be sans lignin; not very. Hopefully my felled wood barriers will protect them another day.


Blackhaw (Viburnum prunifolium) in flower. A common NYC native shrub.