Oriental Bittersweet

Description:

American Bittersweet Vines. There are two types of Bittersweet in Michigan, the naive American Bittersweet (Celastrus scandens) and the very invasive Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus). The Oriental has fruit and flowers located in the leaf axils along the length of the stem, while the American only has fruit and flowers in terminal clusters. The Oriental also has yellow capsules, whereas the American are orange.

Habitat:

Woodland Trail

Notes:

According to Michigan State University, http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/oriental_bi..., "Someone should produce a horror flick about how Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) can single handedly strangle neighboring mature trees if left to its own vices. This woody vine grows rapidly and has a twining nature that clings to anything going up or down. It can easily climb trees up to 90 feet tall. As the plant grows in diameter, it literally chokes or girdles other plants that it is clinging to. Its rate of spread is a bit like a Jack-in-the-bean-stalk fairy tale and it has been observed covering half-acre wood lots in just seven to 10 years. Between the girdling growth habit and sheer weight, whole canopies of a forest can tumble down during the growing season or an ice storm. Bitter beauty – bittersweet aptly named."