Celastrus scandens Linnaeus. American Bittersweet, Waxwork. Phen: May-Jun; Aug-Sep. Hab: Dry-mesic to mesic upland forests and woodlands, woodland and thicket margins, bluffs, riparian and bottomland forests, glade margins. Often on rich or somewhat alkaline soils. Dist: QC west to MB and WY, south to w. SC, n. GA, AL, LA, and TX.

ID notes: See Leicht-Young et al. (2007) for more information on morphometrics used to identify this taxon with C. orbiculatus; hybrids may complicate these patterns.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Other Comments: This decline in this species' abundance throughout its widespread range is due likely in part to habitat changes, competition with C. orbiculatus and other non-native, invasive plant species, and specifically complications from unidirectional pollen flow with C. orbiculatus (as opposed to mere hybridization). See Zaya et al. (2015) for more information.

Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, F, FNA12, G, GrPl, Il, K1, K3, K4, Mi, NcTx, NE, NY, Pa, RAB, S, S13, Tat, Tn, Tx, Va, W, Duncan (1969)

Links to other floras: = Celastrus scandens - FNA12

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU
• Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
• Great Plains: UPL
• Midwest: FACU
• Northcentral & Northeast: FACU

Heliophily ⓘ: 5