What do you know about Smilax?

(plus listen to the introduction of Mythic Plants for free!)

For most people, smilax is an annoying weed that grabs onto clothing and flesh as you make your way through the woods. Foragers appreciate the plant for its tasty tendrils, which make a fresh trail nibble for those of us who like to eat wild.

But in ancient Greece, Smilax was the name of a nymph who was loved by the mortal Krokus. In some versions of the story, Krokus’s love was unrequited, and he killed himself in despair. The first crocus is said to have sprung from his grave.

In another, because Krokus was mortal and Smilax was a nymph, they could not be together. (Them’s the rules.) Fortunately, the gods took pity on them and turned Krokus into a crocus and Smilax into the smilax vine. Interesting that both are edible plants, n’est-ce pas? (The stamens of Crocus sativus are what give us saffron.)

Ok, there’s no reference in Greek mythology to Krokus being turned specifically into the saffron crocus rather than any other crocus, but Crocus sativus is native to southern Greece, so I’m convinced.

If you’re interested in snacking on Smilax, pinch off the top few inches of stem when the terminal leaves are still unfurling (as in the photo above). They’re tasty raw, with a flavor similar to spring peas. If you’re interested in hearing more mythological plant stories, you can listen to the introduction of Mythic Plants here…for free! I hope it will whet your appetite for more. And if you’d like to order, but don’t want to use Google or Amazon/Audible, here’s a list of all the other places selling the audio version.