Parthenocissus vitacea (Kneer) A.S. Hitchc.

 

by Greg Hitzroth, Native Plants of Arizona 2005

Common names: Woodbine (1), grape woodbine, virginia creeper (2), thicket creeper (3)

Family: Vitaceae

Synonymy: P. quinquefolia, P. inserta (3)

Etymology: Parthenocissus, greek,  parthenos means a virgin and kissos means ivy (2,3); vitacea, vine-like (2) or grape like tendrils (3)

 

Identification

Growth form: Climbing vine or groundcover (1)

Roots:

Stem: Climbing with few-branched tendrils (2, 3), red to brow when young, glabrous, somewhat grooved, brown to grey when mature, large circular leaf scars (3)

Leaves: Alternate, palmately compound with 5 leaflets, narrowly to broadly elliptic to oblong, apex acute to acuminate, base gradually narrows, margins toothed, glossy green on top, paler green and reticulate-veined beneath, glabrous to pubescent; stalks of individual leaflets reddish brown, channeled, 6mm – 2 cm; petioles channeled, 4 cm – 14cm long; deciduous stipules (3).

Inflorescence/flowers: Red, mostly in panicles opposite the leaves, two branches diverge and produce a broad rounded cluster, pedicles 3mm -6mm; calyx shallow and obscurely 5-lobbed; 5 thick concave petals, spreading at anthesis; stamens 5, filaments slender, anthers introse; ovary 2-celled, sessile, narrowed into a minute stigma, ovules 2 in each cavity, erect and anatropous (3)

Fruit: The bluish black berries are roundish with thin skins; 1-4 seeds are angled and bony (3)

Similar species: This species may be confused for Vitis arizonica and Humulus lupulus. All of these species are vines. V. arizonica has simple and entire leaves but P. vitaceae has palmately compound leaves. H. lupulus also has simple and entire leaves but they are palmately deeply lobed and not divided like P. vitacia.

 

Ecology

Life history: Woody vine (1)

Native/introduced: Native to US (1)

Photosynthetic pathway:

Phenology:  Flowers appear June-July and the fruit matures August-October (3)

 Distribution: Through out the US except in Oregon and the south eastern states. It occurs in well drained soil, sun or shade, at altitudes of 3,000 to 7,000 ft (3). In Arizona it is found in all of the counties (except Mohave County) at 3,000 to 7,000 ft (4).  

 Uses: This grape has been used as an ornamental since the 1800’s. It’s used to cover walls, arbors, bushes and rocks. In the fall it turns yellow or red. It is eaten by a variety of birds (3) and people. It has compounds that are taken for urination difficulties cause by gall. Berries and leaves made into a lotion for swollen arms and legs.  Its berry juice is mixed with clay for body paint for the Jemez people’s summer dance (5).

 

References

 

1. USDA, NRCS. 2005. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 ( http://plants.usda.gov). Data compiled from various sources by Mark W. Skinner. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.

2. Robert W. Freckmann Herbarium University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point (http://wisplants.uwsp.edu )

3. Vines R.A. 1976. Trees, shrubs and woody vines of the southwest. University of Texas Press, Austin TX

4. McDougal, W.B. 1973.  Seed Plants of Northern Arizona. The Museum of Northern Arizona.  Flagstaff, Arizona.

5. http://herb.umd.umich.edu/