Greek parthenos — virgin, kissos — ivy.

Mostly deciduous woody climbers with sucker-tipped tendrils. Leaves alternate, pinnate or lobed. Flowers in clusters opposite the leaves. Petals 5(4), free. Disk absent or inconspicuous. Fruit a 1-4- seeded blue or black berry.

Grown for the foliage and stunning autumn foliage colour, often covering walls and other structures.

10 species from E Asia, the Himalaya and N America.

Seed.

P. quinquefolia has bark with medicinal properties.

Tendrils with swollen disk-like tips.

Source: Spencer, R. (2002). Vitaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 3. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 2. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.