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    Home»Herbs and Spices»Facts and benefits of Virginia creeper
    Herbs and Spices

    Facts and benefits of Virginia creeper

    By SylviaDecember 22, 2017Updated:December 22, 2017No Comments6 Mins Read
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    Facts and benefits of Virginia creeper

    Virginia creeper Quick Facts
    Name: Virginia creeper
    Scientific Name: Parthenocissus quinquefolia
    Origin Eastern and central North America, in southeastern Canada
    Colors Blue-black
    Shapes Small hard 4 to 6 mm diameter round blue -black berry that usually contains two to three seeds
    Health benefits Wonderful herbal remedy for diarrhea, difficult urination, swelling, and lockjaw
    Parthenocissus quinquefolia, known as Virginia creeper, Victoria creeper, five-leaved ivy, or five-finger Woodbind, woodbine, false grapes, five leaves, American Ivy, thicket creeper, Wild woodbine, is a species of flowering plant in the grape family, Vitaceae.  The plant is native to eastern and central North America, from southeastern Canada and the eastern United States west to Manitoba and Utah, and south to eastern Mexico and Guatemala. It occurs statewide, typically being located in open areas of ravines, valleys, rich woods, thickets, rocky bluffs, hillsides and fence rows. Virginia creeper belongs to the same genus as the Boston, or Japanese ivy. Genus name comes from the Greek words parthenos meaning virgin” (as in “Virginia”) and cissus translates as “ivy.” Virginia creeper is, truly, native to Virginia but is not true ivy, so this part of the botanical name is misleading. Meanwhile, the species name, quinquefolia, refers to the five leaflets of which each of the leaves is comprised.

    Plant Description

    Virginia creeper is a fast-growing, perennial, woody vine that grows about 20–30 m (66–98 ft.) tall. The plant is found growing in deciduous woodlands, woodland borders, thickets, gravelly seeps, limestone glades, rocky bluffs, fence rows, and walls of buildings. It can adapt to disturbed habitats in both rural and urban areas. It prefers acidic soil, and tolerates a wide range of soils from dry sandy soils to moist loamy soils. The plant is also salt tolerant. The species is cultivated as an ornamental in many moist temperate areas of the world. New stems are brownish-green and finely hairy but gradually acquire pale, raised dots and turn purplish-brown with age with branched tendrils that end in adhesive discs. Bark is gray-brown, becoming coarsely hairy due to aerial roots and tendrils. When rapidly growing, the aerial roots are bright, orange-brown. Twigs are orange brown, finely pubescent with pinnately branched tendrils ending in adhesive discs.

    Leaves

    Leaves are alternate, palmately compound, containing five elliptical leaflets per leaf with coarsely crenate to serrate margins. Leaflets range in size from 2-6 inches and have toothed margins. Leaflets are elliptical to nearly diamond shaped, usually widest at or above the middle. The leaflets are red when they first emerge but turn green as they mature. In the fall, leaves turn a bright red to maroon color. The upper surface is usually dull green though may be shiny when young, sparsely to moderately stiff-hairy especially along the veins; the lower surface is somewhat paler and usually short-hairy. Leaflet stalks are usually hairy.

    Flowers

    Flowers are small, no showy, greenish, produced in inconspicuous clusters on long stems in late spring. Flowers are about ¼ inch across, greenish yellow with 5 (occasionally 6) oblong-elliptic petals that are boat-shaped at the tip and initially spreading then become strongly bent back (reflexed). In the center are an equal number of stamens with creamy yellow tips. Flower stalks are up to ¼ inch long, smooth to sparsely hairy, green to reddish. Flowering normally occurs from June to August.

    Fruits

    Fruits are small hard 4 to 6 mm diameter round blue -black berry that usually contains two to three seeds and is carried in small bunches like grapes. They are borne in long stemmed clusters maturing in late summer. Fruit ripening occurs from August to October. These berries contain oxalic acid, which is moderately toxic to humans and other mammals. The berries provide an important winter food source for birds. Root, Bark, twigs, fresh leaves, berries and resin of the Virginia creeper plant are used medicinally. Fruits are hidden by the foliage and are often not visible until autumn leaf drop.

    Bark-of-Virginia-creeper-plant
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    Traditional uses and benefits of Virginia creeper

    • Native Americans used the plant as an herbal remedy for diarrhea, difficult urination, swelling, and lockjaw.
    • Bark has been used in domestic medicine as a tonic, expectorant, and remedy for dropsy.
    • Berries have been found serviceable in rheumatic complaints and are found to help cure dropsy.
    • Roots are used for diarrhea and the bark and twigs are made into cough syrup.
    • Bark and fresh young shoots are aperient, alterative, emetic, expectorant and tonic.
    • Hot decoction can be used as a poultice to help reduce swellings.
    • Tea made from the leaves is aperient, astringent and diuretic.
    • Tea is used as a wash on swellings and poison ivy rash.
    • Tea made from the plant is used in the treatment of jaundice.
    • Tea made from the roots is used in the treatment of gonorrhea and diarrhea.
    • Fruit is useful in treating fevers.
    • Resinous matter from the bark of the main stems is considered a useful stimulant, antispasmodic and emenagogue.
    • Leaves juice is said to cure headache, when applied to the nostrils.
    • An infusion of the leaves and berries will also alleviate a severe headache.
    • Decoction of the leaves applied externally will destroy head lice in children.
    • Leaves have also been used as poultices and fomentations in glandular enlargements, indolent ulcers, etc.
    • Leaf tea used to wash swellings and poison-sumac rash; mixed with vinegar for wounds and lockjaw; astringent and diuretic.

    Other Facts

    • Parthenocissus quinquefolia is grown as an ornamental plant, because of its ability to rapidly cover walls and buildings, and its deep red to burgundy fall (autumn) foliage.
    • Parthenocissus quinquefolia can be used as a shading vine for buildings on masonry walls.
    • Virginia creeper is used for watershed protection and erosion control.
    • Berries of this plant are eaten by many animals especially birds.
    • Animals such as mice, skunks, chipmunks, squirrels, cattle and deer will munch on the leaves and stems.
    • It is an excellent covering for walls, trellises, arbors or fences.
    • It may also be grown on the ground to cover old stumps, rock piles and other “eyesores”.
    • Pink dye is obtained from the fruit.
    • Decoction of the leaves has been used as a black dye.
    • An infusion of the berries has been frequently found serviceable in rheumatic complaints and is reported to have cured the dropsy.
    • There are 12,000 to 19,000 seeds per pound.

    Precautions

    • Sap of the plant contains oxalate crystals which causes skin irritation and blisters in sensitive people.
    • Skin contact with the leaves in autumn can cause dermatitis in some people.
    • Some evidence suggests the berries are poisonous.
    • It is be avoided by pregnant and breast feeding women.

    References:

    http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-2548124

    https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=paqu2

    https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=28602#null

    https://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/1695/

    https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxonomydetail.aspx?id=26804

    http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Parthenocissus+quinquefolia

    https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/44676

    https://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/v/virgin14.html

    http://medicinalherbinfo.org/herbs/VirginiaCreeper.html

    https://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/pg_paqu2.pdf

    https://www.vegtalk.org/fruits/virginia-creeper-parthenocissus-quinquefolia-t1644.html

    https://plants.usda.gov/factsheet/pdf/fs_paqu2.pdf

    http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=126

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthenocissus_quinquefolia

    http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/weedguide/single_weed.php?id=35

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    Virginia Creeper

    Name Virginia creeper
    Scientific Name Parthenocissus quinquefolia
    Native Eastern and central North America, in southeastern Canada, the eastern and central United States, eastern Mexico, and Guatemala, west as far as Manitoba, South Dakota, Utah and Texas
    Common Names Virginia creeper, Victoria creeper, five-leaved ivy, or five-finger
    Woodbind, woodbine, false grapes, five leaves, American Ivy, thicket creeper, Wild woodbine
    Name in Other Languages Afrikaans: Virginiese klimop
    Chinese: Wǔ yè dì jǐn (五叶地锦),Wǔ yè páshānhǔ (五叶爬山虎)
    Cuba: Parrita cimarrona
    Dutch: Vijfbladige wingerd
    English: American ivy, Virginia creeper, Five-leaf-ivy, Fiveleaved ivy, Woodbine
    Finnish: Imukärhivilliviini
    French: Vigne vierge à cinq feuilles, Vigne-vierge, Vigne-vierge commune
    German: Haftender Wilder Wein, Gewöhnliche Jungfernrebe, Wilder Wein, Fünffingrige Jungfernrebe, Fuenfblaettrige; Selbstkletternde
    Italian: Vite del Canada comune
    Japanese: Amerika zuta
    Netherlands: Haagwijnrank
    Norwegian Bokmål: Klatrevillvin
    Spanish: Vina virgen
    Swedish: Klättervildvin
    Turkish: Amerikan sarmasigi
    Welsh: Dringwr fflamgoch
    Plant Growth Habit Fast-growing, perennial, woody vine
    Growing Climate Deciduous woodlands, woodland borders, thickets, gravelly seeps, limestone glades, rocky bluffs, fence rows, and walls of buildings. It can adapt to disturbed habitats in both rural and urban areas.
    Soil Prefers acidic soil, and tolerates a wide range of soils from dry sandy soils to moist loamy soils.
    Plant Size 20–30 m (66–98 ft.)
    Stem New stems are brownish-green and finely hairy but gradually acquire pale, raised dots and turn purplish-brown with age with branched tendrils that end in adhesive discs.
    Bark Gray-brown, becoming coarsely hairy due to aerial roots and tendrils. When rapidly growing, the aerial roots are bright, orange-brown.
    Twigs Orange brown, finely pubescent with pinnately branched tendrils ending in adhesive discs.
    Leaf Alternate, palmately compound, containing five elliptical leaflets per leaf with coarsely crenate to serrate margins. Leaflets range in size from 2-6 inches and have toothed margins.
    Flowering Periods June to August
    Flower Small, no showy, greenish, produced in inconspicuous clusters on long stems in late spring.
    Fruit Shape & Size Small hard 4 to 6 mm diameter round berry that usually contains two to three seeds
    Fruit Color Blue-black
    Plant Parts Used Root, Bark, twigs, fresh leaves, berries, resin.
    Season August to October
    Culinary Uses
    • The stalks are cut, boiled and peeled, and the sweetish substance between the bark and the wood is used for food.

    Virginia creeper Scientific Classification

    Scientific Name: Parthenocissus quinquefolia

    Rank Scientific Name & (Common Name)
    Kingdom Plantae (Plants)
    Subkingdom Tracheobionta (Vascular plants)
    Infrakingdom Streptophyta  (land plants)
    Superdivision Spermatophyta (Seed plants)
    Division Magnoliophyta (Flowering plants)
    Class Magnoliopsida (Dicotyledons)
    Subclass Rosidae
    Order Rhamnales
    Family Vitaceae (Grape family)
    Genus Parthenocissus Planch. (creeper)
    Species Parthenocissus quinquefolia (L.) Planch. (Virginia creeper)
    Synonyms
    • Ampelocissus cirrhata Voss
    • Ampelocissus major Voss
    • Ampelopsis engelmanni
    • Ampelopsis engelmanni Hort. ex Rehder
    • Ampelopsis hederacea (Ehrh.) DC.
    • Ampelopsis hederacea var. dumetorum Focke
    • Ampelopsis hederacea var. minor Schelle
    • Ampelopsis hederacea var. murorum Focke
    • Ampelopsis himalayana Dippel
    • Ampelopsis hirsuta (Pursh) Donn ex Schult.
    • Ampelopsis hirsuta Donn
    • Ampelopsis latifolia Tausch
    • Ampelopsis macrophylla Hort. ex Dippel
    • Ampelopsis major
    • Ampelopsis major Hort. ex Vilmorin
    • Ampelopsis pubescens Schltdl.
    • Ampelopsis quinquefolia (L.) Michx.
    • Ampelopsis quinquefolia var. angustifolia Dippel
    • Ampelopsis quinquefolia var. dumetorum Rehder
    • Ampelopsis quinquefolia var. graebneri Rehder
    • Ampelopsis quinquefolia var. heptaphylla A.Gray
    • Ampelopsis quinquefolia var. hirsuta (Pursh) Torr. & A.Gray
    • Ampelopsis quinquefolia var. laciniata A.Gray
    • Ampelopsis quinquefolia var. latifolia Dippel
    • Ampelopsis quinquefolia var. murorum Rehder
    • Ampelopsis quinquefolia var. pubescens L.H.Bailey
    • Ampelopsis quinquefolia var. radicantissima Rehder
    • Ampelopsis quinquefolia var. spaethii (Koehne & Graebn.) Schelle
    • Ampelopsis radicantissima (Koehne) Beissn., Schelle & Zabel
    • Ampelopsis radicantissima f. minor (Graebn.) Schelle
    • Ampelopsis radicantissima var. engelmannii (S.Watson) Schelle
    • Ampelopsis radicantissima var. saint-paulii (Koehne & Graebn.) Schelle
    • Ampelopsis roylei
    • Ampelopsis roylei Hort. ex Dippel
    • Ampelopsis saint-paulii (Graebn.) Mottet
    • Ampelopsis saint-paulii
    • Ampelopsis saint-paulii Hort. ex Rehder
    • Ampelopsis serrata
    • Ampelopsis serrata Hort. ex Vilmorin
    • Ampelopsis virginiana
    • Ampelopsis virginiana Hort. ex Dippel
    • Cissus hederacea (Ehrh.) Pers.
    • Cissus hederacea var. hirsuta Pursh
    • Cissus hirsuta Steud.
    • Cissus pubescens (Schltdl.) Walp.
    • Cissus quinquefolia (L.) Borkh.
    • Cissus quinquefolia (L.) Desf.
    • Hedera carnosa W.Bartram
    • Hedera quinquefolia L.
    • Parthenocissus dumetorum (Focke) Rehder
    • Parthenocissus dumetorum var. laciniata Rehder
    • Parthenocissus engelmannii Koehne & Graebn. ex Graebn.
    • Parthenocissus hederacea (Ehrh.) Druce
    • Parthenocissus hirsuta (Donn) Graebner
    • Parthenocissus hirsuta (Pursh) Graebn.
    • Parthenocissus pubescens (Schltdl.) Graebn.
    • Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Linnaeus) Planchon ex de Candolle
    • Parthenocissus quinquefolia f. engelmannii (Koehne & Graebn.) Rehder
    • Parthenocissus quinquefolia f. hirsuta (Pursh) Fernald
    • Parthenocissus quinquefolia f. quinquefolia
    • Parthenocissus quinquefolia var. hirsuta (Pursh) Planch.
    • Parthenocissus quinquefolia var. murorum (Focke) Rehder
    • Parthenocissus quinquefolia var. saintpaulii (Koehne ex Graebn.) Rehder
    • Parthenocissus radicantissima Koehne & Graebn. ex Graebn.
    • Parthenocissus radicantissima var. minor Graebn.
    • Parthenocissus saint-paulii Koehne & Graebn. ex Graebn.
    • Parthenocissus spaethii Koehne & Graebn.
    • Psedera hirsuta Greene
    • Psedera quinquefolia (L.) Greene
    • Psedera quinquefolia var. hirsuta (Pursh) Rehder
    • Psedera quinquefolia var. minor (Graebn.) Rehder
    • Psedera quinquefolia var. murorum (Focke) Rehder
    • Psedera quinquefolia var. saint-paulii Rehder
    • Psedera saint-paulii (Graebn.) Rehder
    • Quinaria hederacea (Ehrh.) Rafin.
    • Quinaria hirsuta (Pursh) Rafin.
    • Quinaria quinquefolia (L.) Koehne
    • Vitis engelmannii S. Watson
    • Vitis hederacea Ehrh.
    • Vitis pubescens (Schltdl.) Miq.
    • Vitis quinquefolia (L.) Lam.
    • Vitis quinquefolia var. hirsuta (Pursh) Bean
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