AMPELOPSIS, a genus of the vine family, Vitaceae, strongly resembling the grape-vine in habit, comprising some 25 species native to warm regions in Asia and North America, some of which are cultivated as ornamental climbers. Of these, the pepper-vine (A. arborea), somewhat shrubby, with pinnate leaves, and the simple-leaved ampelopsis (A. cordata) occur in the southern United States. The Virginia creeper (q.v.) was formerly placed under this genus; while A. cuspidata (A. Veitchii), introduced into England from Japan in 1868, has smaller leaves very variable in shape.