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Woodbine

Parthenocissus vitacea

Photo © by Michael Plagens

Photographed in Hassayampa Box Canyon, Yavapai County, Arizona. April 2008.

VINE: Woody vine trailing with weakly clasping tendrils usually lacking the adherent discs characteristic of similar Virginia Creeper ( Parthenocissus quinquefolia). May be several meters in length.

LEAVES: Leaves are palmately compound with usu. five sharply serrated leaflets. Change bright orange-red in fall.

RANGE: Infrequent in the Sonoran Desert in Arizon; restricted to shady canyons. More common in northern states.

FRUIT: A 1 cm dia. berry, dark blue-black when ripe with ca. three seeds.

FLOWERS: Greenish flowers arranged in small panicles.

UNARMED. Lacks thorns and spines.

Vitaceae -- Grape Family

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Copyright Michael J. Plagens, 1999-2009