The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Celastrus \Celastrus\ n.
   the type genus of the Celastraceae, comprising the plants
   called climbing bittersweet; bittersweet and shrubby
   bittersweet; they are woody vines and shrubs native chiefly
   to Asia and Australia, bearing yellow to orange capsules
   which open to expose red-coated seeds. See also
   bittersweet[3b].

   Syn: genus Celastrus.
        [WordNet 1.5 +PJC]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

climbing bittersweet
    n 1: twining shrub of North America having yellow capsules
         enclosing scarlet seeds [syn: bittersweet, American
         bittersweet, climbing bittersweet, false bittersweet,
         staff vine, waxwork, shrubby bittersweet, Celastrus
         scandens]