Family: Celastraceae, Staff Tree view all from this family

Description A twining, woody vine that produces small green flowers and distinctive bicolored fruits.
Flowers: 1/6" (4 mm) wide, in terminal clusters up to 4" (10 cm) long; petals 4-5.
Leaves: to 2-4" (5-10 cm) long; ovate, pointed, finely serrated.
Fruit: yellow-orange, opening upon maturing to expose the scarlet, berry-like interior (actually the fleshy seeds).
Height: vine.

Flower May-June.

Habitat Thickets, woods, riverbanks.

Range S. Manitoba and Quebec south to Georgia; west to Alabama, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and the Dakotas.

Discussion This native species is being replaced in the Northeast by the more aggressive Asiatic Bittersweet (C. orbiculatus) which has escaped from cultivation. It has flowers and showy scarlet fruit arising from the axils of the leaves.