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Oriental Bittersweet Celastrus orbiculatus. Oriental bittersweet. Woody vine that climbs other vegetation such trees and structures Thrives in a wide range of habitats, light levels, and soil types Grows to 66’ in length Introduced as an ornamental. Biology.
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Oriental Bittersweet Celastrus orbiculatus
Oriental bittersweet • Woody vine that climbs other vegetation such trees and structures • Thrives in a wide range of habitats, light levels, and soil types • Grows to 66’ in length • Introduced as an ornamental
Biology • Reproduces by seed, rhizome, and stolon • Male and female plants • Fruit production on female plants • Short-term seed viability
Seed dispersal is vectored by birds and other wildlife that eat the fruit containing seed. Wildlifevectored dispersal Urtica/Flickr creative commons http://gremlinthecat.blogspot.com/2010_12_01_archive.html
Human vectored dispersal Urtica/Flickr creative commons
Highly invasive and damaging • Trees strangled, smothered and broken by vines • Reduced light available for plant growth
American bittersweet Celastrus scandens • Native related species • Occur in same habitat • Oriental bittersweet outcompetes American bittersweet • Hybrids? • Cultivars
Distinguishing bittersweets Fruit capsule color American Oriental
Which is Oriental bittersweet? • Plant 1 • Plant 2 1 2
Control methods • Foliar application • Low growing plants, seedlings and re-sprouting cut stumps • Cut stump and basal bark treatments • Large vines
Oriental bittersweet distribution EDDMapS. 2014. Early Detection & Distribution Mapping System. The University of Georgia - Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health. Available online at http://www.eddmaps.org/; last accessed February 12, 2014.
Report infestations • Location information • GPS coordinates preferred when access is permissible • Note location for infestations on private property without permission to access • Digital photographs of the vine and fruit or flowers will aid identification • Call “Arrest the Pest” 888-545-6684
Legal status in Minnesota • Prohibited Noxious Weed on Eradicate List • All plant parts must be destroyed • No propagation or sale is allowed • Cultivars • ProhibitedOriental bittersweet cultivars • Diana, Hercules, Indian Mix, Indian Brave, Indian Maiden • Approved American bittersweet cultivars • Autumn Revolution and Sweet Tangerine ‘Swtazam’
Infestations in Minnesota • Goal is to prevent new infestations and contain and control existing infestations. • Small, manageable infestations should be controlled by landowners • MnDOT and DNR have destroyed multiple small infestations and are monitoring seedbanks. • Coordinated initial control of large Oriental bittersweet infestations across land ownship boundaries was recommended for funding by the Legislative Citizens Commission on Minnesota Resources
Questions? http://www.mda.state.mn.us/en/plants/badplants/orientalbittersweet.aspx