I don't think that "tuber" is the correct discription of the root of this plant.

Mr. Garner notes that the Stretchberry Greenbriar parts are edible. The new  growth at end of vines can be munched, the roots  and shoots boiled or raw, the  pulp of the little black berries added to Sweet Gum sap to make bubble gum, and the rizomes dried, chopped then pounded in water , the fibers strained out, the flour allowed to settle to the bottom and the excess water poured off and used wet for flour or the flour can be dried for storage.

I have never tried this and he warns that there is another plant, Snail seed vine, Cocculus cadolinus,  that is poisonous and  looks pretty much like this except no thorns and  berries are red.

To me, the plant is definitly a neusance and I could live without it. I'm sure someone will write me in a huff telling me how this plant saved his/her life when they were stranded in the wilderness, or how his/ her ole gran'pappy ate it all his life  and lived to be 106.. but that is ok.. I am open minded. ...that doesn't mean my mind is like a sieve, though! : )

3 July 2000
Growing in my yard next to an Oak and some Dogwood, this America Beautyberry will have berries for the birds this late summer or fall.

Sept 14th 2000 and the American Beautyberry has born these colorfull berries.

3 July 2000
One of my favorite plants; cultivars can be had in other colors than purple. I like them all, but the purple is my first love. It is an herb used by the Plains Indians as an immunity booster to ward off colds and other illnesses. Since it is an immune booster, it is not recommended for those with Arthritis.[Arthritis seems to occur when the immune system becomes too active and cannot seem to tell the difference from its own protien and invading protien and attacks good or bad....from what I understand.

I love the plant because of its hardiness and beauty.

3 July 2000: The scan does not do this plant justice. It is much more colorful, the beautiful,bright but soft, red-orange petals fading out to brilliant yellow tips.

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Last revised 11/10/2000
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©1998 by Leona Halley Henderson, Tvksi