The staff vines, also known as staff trees, genus Celastrus, comprise about 30 species of shrubs and vines. They have a wide distribution in eastern Asia, Australasia, Africa and the Americas. The leaves are alternate and simple ovoid, typically 5-20 cm long. The flowers are small, white, pink or greenish, and borne in long panicles; the fruit is a red three-valved berry. The fruit are eaten by frugivorous birds, which disperse the seeds in their droppings. All parts of the plants are poisonous to humans if eaten.
In North America, they are sometimes known as "bittersweet", presumably a result of confusion with the unrelated Bittersweet (Solanum dulcamara) by early colonists. C. orbiculatus is a serious invasive weed in much of eastern North America.
Celastrus scandens leaves are alternate, dark green, oval shaped, and turn yellow before dropping in the fall.
Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb.) is becoming more common than American bittersweet and is attaining a similar geographic range.
Celastrus scandens, American bittersweet grows wild in woodlands, rocky slopes, along bluffs, and along fence rows from Georgia to Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and west to Ontario, Manitoba, and Wyoming.
Celastrus paniculatus is a shrub used in Ayurdevic medicine in India.
Celastrus paniculatus seeds and oil have long been regarded in India as beneficial to the intellect and memory.
Celastrus oil administration up to the highest dose (5 g/kg body weight)* did not produce any toxic effect on the normal behavior of the rats…Celastrus oil did not impair motor coordination at any dose level..” *3500 times the softgel dose of 100mg.
Feeds |
Contact