- Appearance
- Rhodotypos scandens is a small, multi-stemmed, up to 6 ft. (1.8 m) tall shrub that invades natural areas in the eastern United States.
- Foliage
- Leaves are opposite, simple, 2.5-4 in. (6.2-10 cm) long and doubly serrate. Leaves also have ribbed veins and a long, pointed tip.
- Flowers
- White, four-petaled, 2 in. (5.1 cm) wide flowers occur in the spring.
- Fruit
- The flowers give way to small, red (turning black), bead-like fruit.
- Ecological Threat
- Rhodotypos scandens invades forested areas creating a thick shrub layer which could displace native shrubs, shade out understory species and restrict tree seedling establishment. Rhodotypos scandens is native to eastern Asia and was first introduced into the United States in 1866 as an ornamental.
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