Parthenocissus

Taxobox
name = "Parthenocissus"

---

image_width = 240px
image_caption = "Parthenocissus quinquefolia" foliage and fruit
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Vitales
familia = Vitaceae
genus = "Parthenocissus"
genus_authority = Planch.

"Parthenocissus" (creepers) is a genus of climbing plants from the grape family, Vitaceae. It contains about 10 species, from Asia and North America. Several are grown for ornamental use.

The name is from 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 [cite book | last = Fralish | first = James S. | coauthors = Franklin, Scott B. | year = 2002 | title = Taxonomy and Ecology of Woody Plants in North American Forests | publisher = John Wiley and Sons | page = 167 | isbn 0-471-16158-6 | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=jZZtZgvN3ykC&pg=RA2-PA167&lpg=RA2-PA167&dq=parthenocissus+virgin&source=web&ots=d8WONlSg-r&sig=OzOxZRsiMXwfqMbgbUgvM_QuKac&hl=en | accessdate = 2008-03-09] or the English name "Virginia creeper". [cite book | last = Hammer | first = Roger L. | year = 2004 | title = Florida Keys Wildflowers: A Field Guide to Wildflowers, Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of the Florida Keys | publisher = Globe Pequot | ISBN 0-7627-2569-9 | pages = 133 | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=ai97pkgIH5MC&pg=PA133&dq=parthenocissus+virgin&ei=dYLUR9qQJpXGyATqrf2ABA&sig=s4bbq_6TGdz-90ZhRLYa000HYcM | accessdate = 2008-03-09]

"Parthenocissus" species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Brown-tail and The Gothic.

;Species:
*"Parthenocissus austro-orientalis", from China
*"Parthenocissus henryana", from China
*"Parthenocissus heptaphylla", Sevenleaf Creeper, from Texas and Mexico
*"Parthenocissus heterophylla", from China and Taiwan
*"Parthenocissus himalayana", from the Himalaya, southern China and Taiwan
*"Parthenocissus quinquefolia", Virginia Creeper, from eastern North America
*"Parthenocissus semicordata", from the Himalaya
*"Parthenocissus tricuspidata", Japanese Creeper or Boston Ivy, from eastern Asia
*"Parthenocissus thomsonii", from China
*"Parthenocissus vitacea", Thicket Creeper, Woodbine, or Grape Woodbine, from western and northern North America

References