Celastrus paniculatus is a woody liana commonly known as black oil plant, climbing staff tree, and intellect tree (Sanskrit: jyotishmati[1] ज्योतीष्मती, Hindi: mal-kangani माल-कांगनी, Chinese: deng you teng 灯油藤).

[2][3][4] This climbing shrub grows throughout India at elevations up to 1,800 m (5,900 ft).

[2][5] C. paniculatus is a deciduous vine with stems up to 10 cm (3.9 in) in diameter and 6 m (20 ft) long with rough, pale brown exfoliating bark covered densely with small, elongated lenticles.

The leaves are simple, broad, and oval, obovate or elliptic in shape, with toothed margins.

[2][6] Celastrus paniculatus has a relative that grows in the United States that is poisonous (Celastrus orbiculatus), so identifying this plant carefully can be important.