Smilax glauca (Cat greenbrier), Smilacaceae
Smilax glauca (Cat greenbrier, glaucous-leaved greenbriar)
Family: Smilacaceae
(Photo by Arthur Haines from GoBotany.)
From GoBotany: “Glaucus-leaved greenbriar is a climbing, prickly vine with bluntly triangular leaves that have three prominent, parallel veins and a white (glaucous) bloom on the undersides. Birds eat the berries, particularly in winter.”
“Smilax” – So I already knew “Smilax” because I had a field crew leader who would get tangled in greenbriar and yell at the plant, “Smilax, stop smilax-ing!” This happened enough times that I remembered the general plant name “smilax”.
“Glauca” – Almost the same “glaucus”, or when plants have a pale whitish or greenish-whitish color. Sort of waxy, can rub off. AKA the color of the underside of cat greenbrier leaves, as mentioned. AKA Glaucus, Greek sea-god, apparently (on googling it).
Just to drive home the point, I doodled a glaucous-colored cat with dark-green cat greenbrier ears.