Parthenocissus quinquefolia

Parthenocissus quinquefolia (L.) Planch. (N-Am.) – A rather rare ornamental species, usually cultivated for wall cover. Known as an escape from cultivation since 2001 from several locations in the city of Antwerpen (primarily Berchem) and locally naturalized. All records are from stony substrates (ruins, old walls, basement walls). Occasionally seen elsewhere but obviously much rarer than Parthenocissus inserta. Older Belgian records of Parthenocissus quinquefolia were all in error for the latter.

With its conspicuous adhesive discs Parthenocissus quinquefolia is (like P. tricuspidata) probably more appropriate for wall cover than P. inserta. Its occurrence as an invasive environmental weed in woodlands is perhaps less likely (although it has been recorded as twining in scrub in Quaregnon in 2012).

Belgian populations belong to the glabrous var. quinquefolia. Plants with pubescent young twigs, lowerside of leaves and inflorescence branches are sometimes segregated as Parthenocissus pubescens (Schlecht.) Graebn. (syn.: P. quinquefolia var. hirsuta (Pursh) Planch., P. hirsuta (Pursh) Small) (see Koblížek 1997).

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Selected literature:

Koblížek J. (1997) Vitaceae. In: Slavík B. (ed.), KvetenaCeskéRepubliky, vol. 5. Academia, Praha: 441-446.