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Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb.

Oriental bittersweet, Asiatic bittersweet

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassMagnoliopsidaDicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
SubclassRosidaeRoses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more
OrderCelastralesAbout 1300 varied mostly tropical and subtropical plants
FamilyCelastraceaeStaff vine or bittersweet family of vines, shrubs and small trees
GenusCelastrusFrom Greek kelastros, for a type of evergreen plant
Speciesorbiculatus“Disk-shaped, rounded,” for the leaves

About plant names...

The bright red berries nestled in yellow husks on these vines are prized by many for making Thanksgiving decorations, but oriental bittersweet is a killer. Okay, maybe that sounds a little strong for a plant, but this plant grows very quickly, encircling, entwining, strangling, and shading even very large trees. Vines reach four inches in diameter, and produce enormous numbers of new plants. They are considered a dangerous invasive.

Identification: Though oriental bittersweet is not native to North America, the related species American bittersweet is. The native variety is well-behaved, and dwindling, even threatened, in part by people trying to eliminate the oriental variety. Hence it is important to protect the American variety and slow the spread of the oriental variety.

Oriental BittersweetAmerican Bittersweet
StemsStem has blunt thornsStem is smooth
Berries  Copious, appearing all along the vineAppearing at tips of vine only
HusksBright yellowOrange
VinesWith blunt thorns or bumpsNo bumps
PollenWhiteYellow

Both species have red berries, alternate leaves, and bright orange roots.

Online References:

Www.carolinanature.com

Illinois Wildflowers

Www.thespruce.com

The Plant Conservation Alliance’s Alien Plant Working Group Least Wanted List

Invasive.org, Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health

The USDA Forest Service's Fire Effects Information Database

Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants

EFloras

Celastrus orbiculatus (Oriental bittersweet, Asiatic bittersweet)

A great demonstration of how vines look for supports. The young vine traces out a circular path as it grows, until it comes in contact with a support. It bends at the point of contact, here forming a coil. · 10/11/2016 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 4½ × 7″ (12 × 18 cm)

Celastrus orbiculatus (Oriental bittersweet, Asiatic bittersweet)

5/29/2010 · Maine Audubon Gilsland Farm Audubon Center, Falmouth, Maine · ≈ 1 × 1½′ (34 × 52 cm)

Celastrus orbiculatus (Oriental bittersweet, Asiatic bittersweet)

11/6/2011 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 2½ × 1¾″ (6.9 × 4.6 cm)

Celastrus orbiculatus (Oriental bittersweet, Asiatic bittersweet)

8/28/2010 · Near Boat Ramp, East Falmouth, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 15 × 10″ (39 × 26 cm)

Celastrus orbiculatus (Oriental bittersweet, Asiatic bittersweet)

11/17/2009 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts

Celastrus orbiculatus (Oriental bittersweet, Asiatic bittersweet)

5/29/2010 · Maine Audubon Gilsland Farm Audubon Center, Falmouth, Maine · ≈ 2 × 1′ (62 × 41 cm)

Celastrus orbiculatus (Oriental bittersweet, Asiatic bittersweet)

11/19/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 13 cm)

Celastrus orbiculatus (Oriental bittersweet, Asiatic bittersweet)

5/24/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 14 cm)

Celastrus orbiculatus (Oriental bittersweet, Asiatic bittersweet)

As the tree grows, it envelops the surrounding bittersweet vine. · 4/8/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Ayer, Mass­a­chu­setts ID is uncertain

Celastrus orbiculatus (Oriental bittersweet, Asiatic bittersweet)

9/24/2011 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm)

Celastrus orbiculata Thunb., orth. var.

 

Celastrus orbiculatus description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 11 Oct 2021.

© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.


 

Celastrus orbiculatus (Oriental bittersweet, Asiatic bittersweet)

10/25/2009 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Nashua, New Hamp­shire · ≈ 15 × 10″ (39 × 26 cm)

Celastrus orbiculatus (Oriental bittersweet, Asiatic bittersweet)

11/11/2008 · Acorn Trail, Great Brook State Park, Carlisle, Mass­a­chu­setts

Celastrus orbiculatus (Oriental bittersweet, Asiatic bittersweet)

9/9/2010 · Pine Meadow Conservation Trust Land, Groton Harvard Road, Ayer, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm)

Celastrus orbiculatus (Oriental bittersweet, Asiatic bittersweet)

11/11/2008 · Acorn Trail, Great Brook State Park, Carlisle, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 15 cm)

Celastrus orbiculatus (Oriental bittersweet, Asiatic bittersweet)

The orange roots are distinctive. · 6/29/2011 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 14 cm)

Celastrus orbiculatus (Oriental bittersweet, Asiatic bittersweet)

6/10/2016 · Monhegan Island, Maine

Celastrus orbiculatus (Oriental bittersweet, Asiatic bittersweet)

10/25/2009 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Nashua, New Hamp­shire · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm)

Celastrus orbiculatus (Oriental bittersweet, Asiatic bittersweet)

11/17/2009 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts

Celastrus orbiculatus (Oriental bittersweet, Asiatic bittersweet)

5/24/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 4½ × 3″ (11 × 7.9 cm)

Celastrus orbiculatus (Oriental bittersweet, Asiatic bittersweet)

11/17/2009 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts

Celastrus orbiculatus (Oriental bittersweet, Asiatic bittersweet)

2/20/2012 · Bancroft St., Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts

Celastrus orbiculatus (Oriental bittersweet, Asiatic bittersweet)

10/25/2009 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Nashua, New Hamp­shire · ≈ 17 × 12″ (44 × 29 cm)

Range:

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