Oriental Staff Vine
Encyclopedia
Oriental Staff Vine is a woody vine native to East Asia
of the Celastraceae
family. It is also commonly called Oriental Bittersweet, Japanese Bittersweet or Asiatic Bittersweet. Oriental staff vine was introduced into North America
in 1879, 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.
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.
, Oriental staff vine was planted along roadsides to help control soil erosion. 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. It prefers mesic
woods, where it has been known to eclipse native plants.
s have no effect on the vine. The application of glyphosate should be done at the beginning of winter.
East Asia
East Asia or Eastern Asia is a subregion of Asia that can be defined in either geographical or cultural terms...
of the Celastraceae
Celastraceae
The Celastraceae , is a family of about 90-100 genera and 1,300 species of vines, shrubs and small trees, belonging to the order Celastrales...
family. It is also commonly called Oriental Bittersweet, Japanese Bittersweet or Asiatic Bittersweet. Oriental staff vine was introduced into North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
in 1879, and is considered to be an invasive species
Invasive species
"Invasive species", or invasive exotics, is a nomenclature term and categorization phrase used for flora and fauna, and for specific restoration-preservation processes in native habitats, with several definitions....
in eastern North America. It closely resembles the native North American species, Celastrus scandens
Celastrus scandens
Celastrus scandens, commonly called American Bittersweet or Bittersweet, is a species of staff vines that blooms mostly in June and is commonly found on rich, well-drained soils of woodlands. It has a sturdy perennial vine that may have twining, woody stems that are or longer and an inch or more...
, with which it will readily hybridize.
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.
Cultivation and uses
Before it was recognized as a destructive invasive speciesInvasive species
"Invasive species", or invasive exotics, is a nomenclature term and categorization phrase used for flora and fauna, and for specific restoration-preservation processes in native habitats, with several definitions....
, Oriental staff vine was planted along roadsides to help control soil erosion. 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. It prefers mesic
Mesic
Mesic may refer to:* Mesic, North Carolina, a town in the United States* Mesic habitat, a type of habitat...
woods, where it has been known to eclipse native plants.
As an invasive species in North America
C. orbiculatus can form thick monospecific stands and affect community structure. C. orbiculatus can hybridize with its cogener C. scandens and threatens the distinct genetic identity of C. scadens. C. orbiculatus also has been shown to alter soil chemistry in invaded areas. A leaf extract has been shown to have a strong inhibitive effect on native seed germination.Control
Oriental staff vine has spread quickly in the United States, and is considered an invasive species by the USDA Forest Service. 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) 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 herbicideHerbicide
Herbicides, also commonly known as weedkillers, are pesticides used to kill unwanted plants. Selective herbicides kill specific targets while leaving the desired crop relatively unharmed. Some of these act by interfering with the growth of the weed and are often synthetic "imitations" of plant...
s have no effect on the vine. The application of glyphosate should be done at the beginning of winter.
External links
- "'Weed Warriors' turn vines into vine art", video by The Washington PostThe Washington PostThe Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
- Species Profile- Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus), National Invasive Species Information Center, United States National Agricultural LibraryUnited States National Agricultural LibraryThe United States National Agricultural Library is one of the world's largest agricultural research libraries, and serves as a National Library of the United States and as the library of the United States Department of Agriculture...
. Lists general information and resources for Oriental Bittersweet.