Now that the leaves are disappearing, we can see the invaders casting aside their cautionary yellow sheaths and exposing their dangerous red weapons.
The golden husks on the Asian Bittersweet vines (Celastrus orbiculatus) are opening to offer, like the Devil in Eden, their destructive red berries to the innocent birds. The birds then spread this tempting and beautiful evil seed so profusely that humankind has not found an effective way to prevent the python-like vines from sprouting anew to suffocate more and more trees.
The State of Maine has admitted that this plant’s killing is too rampant to be stopped. However, to slow down the damage, it has listed the Asian Bittersweet as an invasive species and prohibited its sale and distribution here.
There is a native version, equally beautiful and aptly named American Bittersweet (Celastrus scandens), that is environmentally innocuous. But, that’s another story. (Brooklin, Maine)