Jepson eFlora: Taxon page
Vascular Plants of California
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Higher Taxonomy
Family: VitaceaeView DescriptionDichotomous Key

Habit: Woody vine [shrub]; tendrils opposite leaves. Stem: generally lenticelled. Leaf: alternate, simple or compound, petioled, deciduous; stipules generally deciduous. Inflorescence: cyme, panicle, generally opposite leaf, peduncled. Flower: generally bisexual, radial; sepals generally reduced, generally fused, lobes 0 or 5; petals generally 5, free, reflexed, falling individually, or adherent at tips, +- erect, falling as unit, +- red or +- yellow; stamens generally 5, opposite petals; nectaries 0 or between stamens as +- free glands; ovary 1, superior, chambers generally 2(4), style 1 or 0, stigma inconspicuous or head-like. Fruit: berry. Seed: 1--6.
Genera In Family: 15 genera, +- 800 species: especially warm regions; some cultivated (Cissus, grape ivy; Parthenocissus, Virginia creeper; Vitis, grape).
eFlora Treatment Author: Eric B. Wada & M. Andrew Walker, except as noted
Scientific Editor: Thomas J. Rosatti.
Stem: bark not peeling; stem center white, not partitioned at nodes; tendril tips generally without adhering disks. Leaf: simple [compound; leaflets 3--5], serrate [entire]. Inflorescence: cyme or panicle. Flower: calyx green, lobes shallow; petals free, green; nectaries raised above ovary. Seed: 1--4, obovoid.
Species In Genus: 350 species: temperate, tropics. Etymology: (Greek: ivy)
Jepson eFlora Author: Eric B. Wada & M. Andrew Walker

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Citation for this treatment: Eric B. Wada & M. Andrew Walker 2012, Cissus, in Jepson Flora Project (eds.) Jepson eFlora,, accessed on December 11, 2019.

Citation for the whole project: Jepson Flora Project (eds.) 2019, Jepson eFlora,, accessed on December 11, 2019.