Celastraceae, the Staff Tree Family
Shrubs with simple leaves and inconspicuous flowers; sepals and petals each 4 or 5, the stamens of the same number and attached to a disk which fills the center of the flower; fruit showy, orange and red.
| 1a. Leaves alternate (climbing vine; flowers in racemes; late spring) | Bitter-sweet, Celastrus scandens. |
| 1b. Leaves opposite (flowers in axillary clusters) — 2. | |
| 2a. Prostrate, with short erect branches; leaves broadest above the middle (spring) | Creeping Wahoo, Evonymus obovatus. |
| 2b. Tall shrub, with leaves broadest below or near the middle (early summer) | Wahoo, Evonymus atropurpureus. |