Winter Bittersweet Pillow

Ice on American bittersweet winter seed pods. American Bittersweet is a perennial vine native to central and eastern North America. While the flower are plain and uninteresting compared to the berries that follow. As the flowers fade orange-yellow capsules appear. In late fall the capsules open to show bright red berries inside. The berries remain on the plant well into winter, adding colour to the winter landscapes. The berries last throughout the winter giving some bright colour to the landscape and easy to spot. The crimson berry-like fruits are toxic to us mammals but highly sought after by birds. Here the red berries have been eaten, leaving the orange capsules on the vine. Copyright: Robert Alsop images.