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Celastrus dependens

Common name:		Family:	Celastraceae
Author:	Wall.	Botanical references:	200
Synonyms:	Celastrus paniculatus (Willd.)
Known Hazards:	None known
Range:	E. Asia - S.W. China to the Himalayas.
Habitat:	Open moist places to elevations of 300 metres in Nepal[272].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	2	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	2

Other Possible Synonyms:	From various places across the web, may not be correct. See below.
	C. paniculata[E]
Other Common Names:	From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below.
	Sila [E],
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Celastrales. Bittersweet family
Other Range Info:	From the Ethnobotany Database
	Hindu India(Gujarat) India(Santal) Java Philippines

Physical Characteristics

A decidious climber. It is hardy to zone 8. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs). We rate it 2/5 for edibility and 2/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires moist soil.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Woodland, Dappled Shade, Shady Edge.

Edible Uses

Flowers.

The young flowers are used as a vegetable[183].

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

Abortifacient Analgesic Antidote Aphrodisiac Bitter Cancer Diaphoretic Emetic Emmenagogue Laxative Stimulant Tonic.

The plant is used as an antidote to opium[218]. It is also considered to be analgesic, aphrodisiac, diaphoretic, emetic, emmenagogue, stimulant and tonic[218].
The bark is abortifacient[240]. The juice from the bark is used in the treatment of indigestion[272].
The seed is aphrodisiac, bitter, emetic, laxative and stimulant[240]. It is used in the treatment of rheumatism, leprosy, gout, fevers and paralysis[240, 272].
The oil from the seed is a powerful stimulant. It is used in the treatment of beriberi[240].
Many plants in this genus contain compounds of interest for their antitumour activity[218].

Other Uses

Oil.

The seed contains 52% oil, and the fruit 30%[240]. This oil is used medicinally (see notes above), we do not know if it has any other applications[K].

Cultivation details

Prefers a deep loamy soil[11]. A gross feeder, it requires a rich soil[11].
This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10° c[200].
A rampant climber, it requires ample space and is best grown into an old tree[1, 200]. Fruits best when its top growth is in a sunny position[182].
Plants climb by means of twining and by hooked prickles[182]. They do not normally require pruning[219].
This species is closely related to C. scandens[200].
Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

Propagation

Seed - gather when ripe, store in dry sand and sow February in a warm greenhouse[78]. Three months cold stratification leads to a higher germination rate[113]. Remove the aril since this inhibits germination[113]. Germination rates are usually good[78]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Layering in August of the current seasons growth. Takes 12 months[78].
Root cuttings, 6mm thick 25mm long in December. Plant horizontally in pots in a frame[78].

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

Web References

[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

References for Celastrus paniculata (a possible synonym).

[E] Ethnobotany Data (common names, uses, countries) from the Ethnobotany Database.

References for Celastrus paniculatus (a possible synonym).

[E] Ethnobotany Data (common names, uses, countries) from the Ethnobotany Database.
[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.

References for the family Celastraceae.

To be included in the Flora of China.

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[K] Ken Fern
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[11] Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.

[78] Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948
A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.

[113] Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987 ISBN 0942375009
A very detailed book on propagating trees. Not for the casual reader.

[182] Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2
Contains a wide range of plants with a brief description, mainly of their ornamental value but also usually of cultivation details and varieties.

[183] Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[218] Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject.

[219] Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983 ISBN 0-00-219220-0
A nice little book about plants for growing against walls and a small section on plants that can grow in walls.

[240] Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986
Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.

Readers Comments

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Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
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