Celastrus

Read about Celastrus in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Celastrus (Kelastros, ancient Greek name). Celastraceae. Woody plants grown chiefly for their brightly colored fruit; some also for their handsome foliage. Shrubs, usually climbing, with alternate, petioled, usually deciduous and serrate glabrous lvs.: fls. polygamous, 5-merous, inconspicuous, greenish white, in axillary or terminal panicles or racemes; calyx 5-parted; petals small, oblong-ovate; disk entire or crenate; stamens short; ovary superior; style short with 3-lobed stigma: fr. a caps, dehiscent into 3 valves, each containing 1 or 2 seeds, inclosed in a fleshy crimson aril. —More than 30 species in S. and E. Asia, Austral, and Amer. The species with perfect fls. in axillary cymes and with evergreen lvs., being rigid and often spiny shrubs, are now included under Gymnosporia, which see. These shrubs are hardy and ornamental, very effective with their bright-colored fruit remaining usually throughout the winter; C. angulatus is also worth growing for its large handsome foliage. They are very valuable for covering trelliswork, trees or rocks and walls: they grow in almost any soil and situation, and as well in shaded as in sunny positions. Propagated by seeds, sown in fall or stratified, and by root-cuttings or layers; suckers are freely produced, and become sometimes a nuisance in nurseries; they also can be increased by cuttings of mature and of soft wood. The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

1. REDIRECT Staff vine