VIRGINIA CREEPER (Parthenocissus), a well-known genus of climbing plants, containing ten species in temperate Asia and America, of which P. tricuspidata, native to China and Japan, and P. quinquefolia, of eastern North America, are culti vated. Parthenocissus belongs to the family Vitaceae and climbs by means of sucker-like tendrils. The leaves are split into
leaflets, P. tricuspidata (Boston ivy) having three, and P. quin quefolia (Virginia creeper) five. The beautiful reds and yellows assumed by the leaves in autumn add to the attractiveness of the plants, which are commonly grown for covering walls.