Woodbine
Parthenocissus vitacea
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.