Zone 5b, northern Indiana. Dry hillside understory. Pictures taken in mid-October.












These are all of the available images that I have.

Could it be American Bittersweet? Celastrus scandens
http://www.wildflower.org/plan...

I really don't know how to differentiate between the American and the Oriental Bittersweet, but that does look like it might be the one.

One website said "berries: American bittersweet plants appear at the tips of the vines only, while those of the oriental type grow along the vine" and that the American stems are smooth while the Oriental has blunt thorns. But, I can't vouch for the author. Did you see any thorns?
http://landscaping.about.com/c...

I bet it is the American then as I saw no thorns anywhere at all, and the fruit seems to be just on the ends of the branches.

Thanks, Angele!

for native plants! Thanks chelle