Bittersweet: Celastrus scandens

The climbing Bittersweet is also known as climbing orange root, fever twig, red root, Roxbury waxwork, and staff vine. The native Ojibwa named it “Manidobima’kwit” which translates into “spirit twisted” in reference to the twisted intestines of the legendary hero Winabojo who was a spirit boy teaching the Ojibwa how to live in the natural world.

The outer brightly coloured shell-like pods in this water colour piece split open to show the interior red-coloured rounded fruits. The branches of these climbing bushes are quite popular and widely used in attractive and colourful fall decorating.

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