The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Celastrus orbiculatus

Etymology

Celastrus: From the Greek kelastros, an evergreen tree.

Common Name(s)

climbing spindleberry; oriental bittersweet

Authority

Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb.

Family

Celastraceae

Brief Description

Hairless woody vine, deciduous with bright gold leaves in autumn; leaves alternate, serrate; flowers inconspicuous, green; fruit globose, 3-valved, yellow when ripe then splitting to reveal bright red arils surrounding the seeds. Reputedly, all parts are poisonous.

Flora Category

Vascular - Exotic

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Lianes and Related Trailing Plants

Habitat

Terrestrial. This aggressive, perennial, woody vine climbs on rocks and trees and sometimes covers the ground and vegetation (Hutchison 2000).

Features

Deciduous, hairless climber to 12 m high. Roots suckering. Stems round, woody, greyish-brown, layering. Young twigs green, often with sharp 1-2 mm spines. Leaves alternate, roundish, 5-10 cm long, finely serrated, yellowing before falling. Flowers insignificant, pale green. Seed capsule round, 6-8 mm diameter, yellow to orange, exposing scarlet arils. "Flowers are small, greenish-yellow, and usually become unisexual by abortion or reduction of male or female parts, thus the plants are usually dioecious. Occasional vines develop both unisexual and perfect flowers and are then termed polygamo-dioecious. Another reported variation is occasional monoecious plants, i.e. with both male and female flowers on the same vine." http://www.iucngisd.org/gisd/species.php?sc=156

Similar Taxa

The deciduous foliage is most evident in evergreen canopies in autumn when it turns golden yellow. Celastrus is closely related to Euonymus, but can be separated by the alternate leaves. Also similar is Maytenus boaria, but this species lacks petioles on the leaves.

Flowering

November

Flower Colours

Green

Year Naturalised

1981

Origin

NE temp Asia (Japan, Korea, China)

Reason for Introduction

Ornamental - the flexible stems are used to make wreaths.

Life Cycle and Dispersal

Seedlings can appear far from parent plants as seed is spread by birds. Most often seen in disturbed sites - forest edges and gaps, scrub or road sides.

Tolerances

Cold-tolerant in New Zealand, growing wild, e.g. near Taihape, Taupo, Turangi.

This page last updated on 17 May 2017