Systems of releasably connecting staple line buttress material to the jaws of a surgical stapling instrument are provided. The systems include retainers (28,130,150,160) configured to engage the buttress material (24) and releasably retain the buttress material on the jaws (20,22) of the surgical stapling instrument prior to stapling tissue. In certain embodiments, the retainers remain with the jaws of the instrument after stapling of tissue. In alternative embodiments, the retainers remain with the buttress material after being stapled to tissue. The buttress material includes a plurality of slots (136). The retainers are disposed within one recess in one of the jaws, the recess being formed as a slot (132).
