Edge/ Oriental Bittersweet

COMMON NAME: Oriental Bittersweet

OTHER COMMON NAME(S): Round-Leaved Bittersweet, Asiatic Bittersweet

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Celastrus orticulatus

FAMILY: Celastraceae

COMMUNITY: Edge

STATUS: Naturalized

LIFESPAN: Woody vine

HEIGHT: Climbing to several yards long

FLOWERING TIME: Early May to June

FRUITING TIME: Early August to November

DISTRIBUTION: Quebec to Texas ~ Throughout Delaware Watershed

IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS: Twining green stems ~ Leaves alternate, rounded, gold in Autumn ~ Flowers greenish, loose bunches at ends of shoots ~ Masses of yellow fruit, orange-covered seeds, spherical, grow along side the twigs ~ Berries remain on branches into winter after leaves have fallen

GENERAL INFORMATION: The Celastraceae family commonly called the Staff-tree family consists of 88 genera.  The branches of Oriental Bittersweet, or related species, with colorful berries are often brought indoors to brighten up a mantelpiece or holiday table. Bittersweet’s method of climbing presents an interesting problem in that once the vine has wrapped itself snugly around a branch of a shrub or tree, there is no room for either to expand in circumference as it grows.  The usual result is that the vine presses into the branch and the wood of the branch begins to grow around the vine, eventually embedding it.  When the vine dies and falls away, the spiraling scar remains as a clue to its former presence. In late summer and fall, the adult female Two-marked Treehopper (Enchenopa binotata) makes a small slit on the bark of the Bittersweet vine in which to lay their eggs.  They then cover over the area with a sticky white substance that looks and feels like marshmallows.  The substance is placed over the eggs in layers and remains this way through winter.  The young hatch the following summer and feed on the juices of the new twigs.  The insects line up in the same direction along the fine, a trait that may have evolved to make them look like thorns.

Please note: While harvesting wild berries/fruit is permitted at Island Beach State Park, visitors must adhere to park regulations at all times and must not damage vegetation or go off designated trails.  This information is presented for educational purposes.