Celastrus

Linnaeus

Sp. Pl. 1: 196. 1753.

Common names: Bittersweet
Etymology: Greek kelastros, ancient name for holly, Ilex aquifolium
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 12. Treatment on page 120. Mentioned on page 112.
 TaxonIllustrator 
FNA12 P15 Celastrus scandens.jpegCrossopetalum ilicifolium
Euonymus alatus
Celastrus scandens

Vines, twining, polygamodioecious. Branchlets terete. Leaves deciduous [persistent], alternate; stipules present; petiole present; blade margins denticulate; venation pinnate. Inflorescences terminal or axillary, panicles or cymes [racemes]. Flowers bisexual and unisexual, radially symmetric; perianth and androecium hypogynous; hypanthium absent; sepals 5, distinct; petals 5, white or greenish white; nectary intrastaminal, fleshy. Bisexual flowers: stamens 5, free from and inserted under nectary; staminodes 0; pistil 3-carpellate; ovary superior, 3-locular; placentation axile; style 1; stigmas 3; ovules 2 per locule. Staminate flowers: stamens 5; free from and inserted under nectary; staminodes 0; pistillode present. Pistillate flowers: staminodes 5, alternate with petals, undivided, not gland-tipped, minute; pistil 3-carpellate; ovary superior, 3-locular, placentation axile; style 1; stigmas 3; ovules 2 per locule. Fruits capsules, 3-locular, globose or subglobose, 3-lobed distally, apex not beaked. Seeds [1–] 2 per locule, ellipsoid, not winged; aril red, completely surrounding seed. x = 23.

Distribution

North America, e Asia, primarily tropics and subtropics, some temperate regions

Discussion

Species ca. 30 (2 in the flora).

Key

1 Inflorescences terminal, panicles; capsules orange; pollen yellow; leaf blades usually oblong, aestivation involute. Celastrus scandens
1 Inflorescences axillary, cymes; capsules yellow; pollen white; leaf blades suborbiculate to broadly oblong-obovate or ovate-orbiculate, aestivation conduplicate. Celastrus orbiculatus
... more about "Celastrus"
Jinshuang Ma +  and Geoffrey A. Levin +
Linnaeus +
1-veined +, palmate +  and pinnate +
Bittersweet +
North America +, e Asia +, primarily tropics and subtropics +  and some temperate regions +
Greek kelastros, ancient name for holly, Ilex aquifolium +
pistillate +  and staminate +
free-inserted +
bisexual +  and unisexual +
3-lobed +, subglobose +  and globose +
adnate +  and free +
axillary +  and terminal +
bisexual +  and unisexual +
deciduous +
intrastaminal +
parietal +, axile +  and placentation +
greenish white +  and white +
distinct +
hou1955a +, leicht2007a +  and pooler2002a +
ellipsoid +
distinct +
adnate +, free +  and distinct +
free-inserted +
not gland-tipped +
Celastrus +
Celastraceae +
evergreen +, deciduous +, perennial +  and annual +
vine +  and twining +