STAFF TREE FAM'LY 



CELASTRACEAE 



CLIMBING BITTERSWEET. WAXWORK 



Celastrus scandens L. 



The Climbing Bittersweet is called by various names in 

 different' places, such as Shrubby or False Bittersweet, Staff 

 Tree, Staff Vine and Fever Twig. It occurs throughout the 



eastern half of" the United 

 States except in the extreme 

 south, and in Canada. It can 

 grow in the open or in shade 

 and in dry or moist soil, but 

 does best in rich moist soil in 

 shady situations. In Illinois it 

 is often found along fence 

 rows. 



This is a twining woody 

 vine which may climb 30 teet 

 or more. It is easily propa- 

 gated by seeds or by root cut- 

 tings and is frequently used 

 for trellis work or as a cover 

 for fences. It grows rather 

 rapidly and will stand a great 

 deal of pruning without per- 

 manent injury, but the fruits 

 have become so popular for 

 winter bouquets that in some 

 places the plant is threatened 

 with extermination and should 

 be protected. 



The small greenish yellow 

 flowers, mostly dioecious, ap- 

 pear in May or June. The 

 calyx is 5-lobed and there are 5 round-toothed petals much longer 

 than the calyx lobes. In the staminate flower the petals and ; 

 stamens are inserted on a disk that fills the bottom of the calyx. 

 In the pistillate flower the pistil has 3 stigmas and a 3-celled 

 ovary. The fruit, which matures in autumn, is orange outside 

 but breaks open by 3 valves to expose a crimson-red pulp which 

 surrounds the seeds, usually 6. 



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