| Oriental Bittersweet | |
|---|---|
| Oriental Staff Vlne Celastrus orbiculatus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Celastrales |
| Family: | Celastraceae |
| Genus: | Celastrus |
| Species: | C. orbiculatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb. |
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Oriental Staff Vine (Celastrus orbiculatus) is a woody vine native to East Asia of the Celastraceae family.[1] It is also commonly called Oriental Bittersweet, Japanese Bittersweet or Asiatic Bittersweet. Oriental staff vine was introduced into North America in 1879,[2] and is considered to be an invasive species in eastern North America. It closely resembles the native North American species, Celastrus scandens, with which it will readily hybridize.[3]
The defining characteristic of the plant is its vines: they are thin, spindly, and have silver to reddish brown bark. They are generally between 1 and 4 cm in diameter. When Oriental staff vine grows by itself, it forms thickets; when it is near a tree or shrub, the vines twist themselves around the trunk. The encircling vines have been known to strangle the host tree to death, also true of the American species. The leaves are round and glossy, 2–12 cm long, have toothed margins and grow in alternate patterns along the vines. Small green flowers produce distinctive red seeds. The seeds are encased in yellow pods that break open during autumn. All parts of the plant are poisonous.[4]
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Before it was recognized as a destructive invasive species, Oriental staff vine was planted along roadsides to help control soil erosion.[2] The orange-red berries and the vines that hold them are popular as holiday decorations.
Because of these uses and systematic disturbances to eastern forests for wood production and recreation, Oriental staff vine has naturalized to landscapes, roadsides, and woodlands of eastern North America. In the United States it can be found as far south as Louisiana, as far north as Maine, and as far west as the Rocky Mountains.[5] It prefers mesic woods, where it has been known to eclipse native plants.[6]
C. orbiculatus can form thick monospecific stands and affect community structure.[7][8][9] C. orbiculatus can hybridize with its cogener C. scandens and threatens the distinct genetic identity of C. scadens.[10][11] C. orbiculatus also has been shown to alter soil chemistry in invaded areas.[12] A leaf extract has been shown to have a strong inhibitive effect on native seed germination.[13]
Oriental staff vine has spread quickly in the United States, and is considered an invasive species by the USDA Forest Service.[14] It is difficult for most people to distinguish between the American and Oriental species (one reliable character is fruit cluster size, but recently other methods have become available[15]) and identification should be verified by an expert before action is taken. The easiest way to get rid of a small infestation is by ripping the plants out of the ground by their roots. If there is a large colony, the recommended course of action is to cut at the root, and apply glyphosate, as most herbicides have no effect on the vine. The application of glyphosate should be done at the beginning of winter.[5]