WOODBINE

WOODBINE

Parthenocissus vitacea
GRAPE FAMILY (Vitaceae)

Click on each photo thumbnail to enlarge.

This native woody vine climbs over shrubs and other low vegetation with twining tendrils (B). The mature leaves are palmately compound with 5 shiny leaflets (A). The yellowish flowers form loose clusters (A). The fruit, on bright red stalks, resembles grapes (C). In the fall, its leaves turn wine red (D). The closely related Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) has tendrils with adhesive disks and usually dull upper leaf surfaces. River-Bank Grape (Vitis riparia) has similar fruit but very different leaves.

Grows in open woods, especially near water, flowering from May through July. In Fontenelle Forest, uncommon along the southern end of Stream Trail.

The content of NatureSearch is provided by dedicated volunteer Naturalists of Fontenelle Forest who strive to provide the most accurate information available. Contributors of the images retain their copyrights. The point of contact for this page is: Roland Barth.