  
 
Parthenocissus is a genus of tendril climber plants in the grape family, Vitaceae. It contains about 12 species native to the Himalayas, eastern Asia and North America. Several are grown for ornamental use, notably Parthenocissus henryana, Parthenocissus quinquefolia and Parthenocissus tricuspidata. The name derives from the Greek parthenos, "virgin", and kissos (Latinized as "cissus"), "ivy". The reason is variously given as the ability of these creepers to form seeds without pollination or the English name of Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Virginia creeper, which has become attached to the whole genus. Parthenocissus species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Brown-tail and The Gothic.
  
  Parthenocissus quinquefolia, known as Virginia Creeper, Victoria Creeper, Five-leaved Ivy, or Five-finger, is a species of flowering plant in the vine family Vitaceae, native to eastern and central North America, in southeastern Canada, the eastern and central United States, eastern Mexico, and Guatemala, west as far as Manitoba, South Dakota, Utah and Texas. Parthenocissus quinquefolia is a prolific deciduous climber, reaching heights of 20–30 m (66–98 ft) in the wild. It climbs smooth surfaces using small forked tendrils tipped with small strongly adhesive pads 5 mm in size. The leaves are palmately compound, composed of five leaflets (rarely three leaflets, particularly on younger vines) joined from a central point on the leafstalk, and range from 3 to 20 cm (rarely 30 cm) across. The leaflets have a toothed margin. The species is often confused with Parthenocissus vitacea or "False Virginia Creeper", which has the same leaves, but does not have the adhesive pads at the end of its tendrils. Parthenocissus quinquefolia is grown as an ornamental plant, because of its ability to rapidly cover walls and buildings, and its deep red to burgundy autumn foliage.
   
  
|
