Celastrus orbiculatus

Botanical Description

Celastrus orbiculatus is a deciduous climbing shrub with branched, twining stems that can climb up to 12 metres high into the surrounding vgetation[ 266 Title Flora of China Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. Year 1994 ISBN Description An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available. ].. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of fibre. The young shoots are harvested in the spring and sold as a food in local markets in Korea[ 1665 Title Wild Food Plants in South Korea; Market Presence, New Crops, and Exports to the United States Publication Economic Botany, Vol. 50, No. 1 (Jan. - Mar., 1996), pp. 57-70 Author Pemberton R.W. & Nam Sook Lee Website http://www.jstor.org/stable/4255805 Publisher Year 1996 ISBN Description ]. The plant is often grown as an ornamental, where it can be used as a hedge. Celastrus orbiculatus has spread from cultivation in Europe and N. America, becoming established in native woodland where it can outcompete and exclude native species. It has become a seriously invasive plant in much of eastern North America[ 270 Title Flora of N. America Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses. ].