About Celastrus scandens L.
Celastrus scandens L. is a sturdy perennial woody vine. Its twining stems can reach 30 feet (9.1 meters) or more in length, and grow to an inch or more thick at the base. Stem color ranges from yellowish-green to brown, and the stems wrap around other vegetation; they sometimes kill young saplings by restricting the saplings' growth. The vine produces tiny, scentless flowers at the tips of its branches, and colorful, orange pea-sized fruits. The fruits are poisonous to humans if eaten, but birds readily eat them. Roots of this species were used by Native Americans and pioneers to induce vomiting, to treat venereal disease, and to treat symptoms of tuberculosis. Today, it is also used as a decorative plant in landscaping and seasonal floral arrangements.
