NameThatPlant.net: Celastrus scandens

Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Eudicots: Core Eudicots: Rosids: Fabids: Celastrales

WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Celastrus scandens FAMILY Celastraceae Go to FSUS key

Dig deeper at SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.

You may also want to check Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of North Carolina

Read more about American Bittersweet at Vascular Plants of North Carolina.

SYNONYMOUS WITH PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Celastrus scandens FAMILY Celastraceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH Flora of North America

Celastrus scandens

SYNONYMOUS WITH VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 113-01-001:

Celastrus scandens FAMILY Celastraceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933, 1938)

Celastrus scandens

COMMON NAME:
American Bittersweet

To see larger pictures, click or hover over the thumbnails.

image of Celastrus scandens, American Bittersweet

USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913 pnd_cesc_001_lvd

JK Marlow jkm170818_682

August Jackson County NC

Big Ridge Preserve

Leaves elliptic to obovate, cuspidate or acuminate, crenate-denticulate, per Vascular Flora of the Carolinas (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968).

WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Celastrus scandens FAMILY Celastraceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Celastrus scandens FAMILY Celastraceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH Flora of North America
Celastrus scandens

SYNONYMOUS WITH VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 113-01-001:
Celastrus scandens FAMILY Celastraceae

SYNONYMOUS WITH Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933, 1938)
Celastrus scandens

294

Climbing woody vine (twining)
Perennial
Polygamo-dioecious [mostly dioecious, but with some bisexual flowers]

Habitat: Dry-mesic to mesic upland forests and woodlands, bluffs, riparian and bottomland forests, glade margins, per Weakley's Flora

Native to the Carolinas & Georgia

Rare

map
CLICK HERE to see a map, notes, and images from Weakley's Flora of the Southeastern US.

IS THE PLANT "ARMED"?
Bud scales rounded and non-spiny

LEAVES:
Deciduous
Simple
Alternate

FLOWER:
Spring/Summer
Greenish
Radially symmetrical
5 sepals
5 petals
5 stamens
Superior ovary

FRUIT:
Summer/Fall
Orange/Orange-yellow
Capsule

TO LEARN MORE about this plant, look it up in a good book!

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