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The Silent Strangler - Oriental Bittersweet Identification, Biology and Control Angela Gupta, University of Minnesota Extension Monika Chandler, Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Oriental bittersweet Celastrus orbiculatus. Woody vine that climbs trees and structures
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The Silent Strangler - Oriental Bittersweet Identification, Biology and Control Angela Gupta, University of Minnesota Extension Monika Chandler, Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Oriental bittersweet Celastrus orbiculatus • Woody vine that climbs 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
Wildlife vectored dispersal Seed dispersal is vectored by birds and other wildlife that eat the fruit containing seed. http://gremlinthecat.blogspot.com/2010_12_01_archive.html
Human vectored dispersal Urtica/Flickr creative commons
Highly invasive and damaging Vines strangle trees, reduce light available for tree growth, and added vine weight can break trees
Amercian bittersweet, Celastrus scandens • Similar native • Occur in same habitat • Oriental bittersweet outcompetes American bittersweet • Hybrids?
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.
Control methods • Foliar application • Low growing plants, seedlings and re-sprouting cut stumps • Cut stump and basal bark treatments • Large vines
Legal status in Minnesota • Prohibited Noxious Weed on the Eradicate List • All plant parts must be destroyed • No transportation, propagation or sale is allowed • Cultivars (University of Illinois at Chicago study) • Oriental bittersweet • Diana • Hercules • Indian Mix • Indian Brave • Indian Maiden • American bittersweet • Autumn Revolution • Sweet Tangerine ‘Swtazam’
Report FindsContact MDA888-545-6684 or Arrest.The.Pest@state.mn.usPictures and location information are very helpful
Contact Information Angela Gupta, 507-280-2869 U of M Extension agupta@umn.edu Monika Chandler, 651-201-6537 MN Dept. of Agriculture Monika.Chandler@state.mn.us