Japanese Creeper

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Boston ivy
• Japanese creeper
• Japanese ivy
• Boston-ivy
• Japanese-creeper
• Japanese-ivy
• Grape ivy

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Parthenocissus tricuspidata f. veitchii
• Parthenocissus tricuspidata f. purpurea
• Cissus tricuspidata
• Psedera thunbergii
• Psedera tricuspidata
• Vitis tricuspidata
• Parthenocissus veitchii
• Parthenocissus thunbergii
• Ampelopsis tricuspidata
• Ampelopsis veitchii
• Crula nikoensis
• Ampelopsis minima
• Ampelopsis veitchii robusta
• Ampelopsis lowii
• Ampelopsis haponica
• Ampelopsis tricuspidata f. veitchii
• Vitis veitchii
• Cissus veitchii
• Quinaria tricuspidata
• Quinaria veitchii
• Parthenocissus tricuspidata f. lowii
• Acer nikoense
• Ampelopsis veitchii var. purpurea
• Vitis taquetii
• Vitis inconstans
• Vitis roylei
• Negundo nikoense

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Vitales and the family Vitaceae, it is classified under the genus Parthenocissus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread presence across several distinct regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, it can be found growing in both Great Britain and Ireland. Its distribution extends into Middle Europe, where it is established in Belgium and Germany. Furthermore, the species reaches the Mediterranean climate of Southwestern Europe. Specifically, it is documented to inhabit the Baleares islands within that southern region.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Parthenocissus tricuspidata is characterized by its preference for lowland habitats, where it thrives across a broad altitudinal spectrum. It is commonly found from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 1200 m AMSL, with a mean elevational range of approximately 675 m AMSL. This distribution allows the species to occupy various ecological niches within low-lying terrain, adapting to the specific environmental conditions present throughout its vertical range.

Elevational range max:

1200 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

675 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Lowland

Life history

The life history of Parthenocissus tricuspidata is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to establish itself firmly within its ecosystem over multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, it utilizes elevated structural components to position its photosynthetic organs, often climbing or sprawling to maximize light interception. The plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage annually in response to seasonal changes, a strategy that aids in moisture conservation and survival during dormant periods. This combination of a long-lived lifecycle, a climbing phanerophyte life form, and deciduous seasonal behavior defines its complex ecological strategy and survival mechanism.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Parthenocissus tricuspidata is characterized by its robust, woody growth form, functioning as an obligatory climber that utilizes a vine habit to ascend various structures. As an independent organism, it does not act as a parasite or an epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence. The plant exhibits a scandent shoot orientation, allowing it to climb effectively, and can reach significant dimensions with a plant height ranging from a minimum of 3 m to a maximum of 20 m, with an average height of approximately 5.305 m. While it displays characteristics often associated with woody shrubs or even tree-like scaling in its structural complexity, its primary morphological identity is defined by its climbing, woody vine nature.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

vine

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

20 m

Plant height mean:

5.305 m

Plant height min:

3 m

Shoot orientation :

scandent

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Parthenocissus tricuspidata is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. Its vegetative morphology features cordate leaf forms with crenulate margins, lacking any specialized defensive structures such as leaf thorns or spines. The leaf dimensions exhibit significant variability, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 4.5 cm to a maximum of 20 cm, maintaining a mean length of approximately 10.75 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 4 cm and a maximum of 16 cm, resulting in a mean width of 10 cm.

Leaf form :

cordate

Leaf length max:

20 cm

Leaf length mean:

10.75 cm

Leaf length min:

4.5 cm

Leaf margin :

crenulate

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Leaf width max:

16 cm

Leaf width mean:

10 cm

Leaf width min:

4 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Parthenocissus tricuspidata is characterized by a specific flowering period and a structured inflorescence system. The plant produces green flowers arranged in a panicle, with the inflorescence length ranging from a minimum of 0.025 m to a maximum of 0.125 m. The flowering season typically commences in July and concludes in August. Following fertilization, the plant develops fleshy fruits that are distinctively black in color. These fruits vary in size, with a mean length and width of 1.25 cm, while the dimensions can range from 1 cm to a maximum of 1.5 cm for both length and width. The seeds contained within these fruits are quite small, possessing a mean mass of approximately 0.0234866666666667 g (with a range between 0.01456 g and 0.0235 g) and a consistent seed volume of 24 mm³. Regarding dispersal, the plant utilizes a zoochorous strategy, specifically employing endozoochory, where the seeds are dispersed through the digestive tracts of animals.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Flower colour :

green

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit colour :

black

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length max:

1.5 cm

Fruit length mean:

1.25 cm

Fruit length min:

1 cm

Fruit width max:

1.5 cm

Fruit width mean:

1.25 cm

Fruit width min:

1 cm

Inflorescence :

panicle

Inflorescence length max:

0.125 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.025 m

Seed mass max:

0.0235 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0234866666666667 g

Seed mass min:

0.01456 g

Seed volume max:

24 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Parthenocissus tricuspidata has 2 reported plant parts identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include stem, leaf.

Stem

1. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan
2. Journal of natural products
3. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Leaf

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin
2. Archives of pharmacal research

Chemicals

Parthenocissus tricuspidata has 16 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include (+)-Rhododendrol, (-)-Sakuraresinoside, 2,24-Dihydroxyursolic acid, 2alpha-Hydroxyursolic acid, Acernikol.

(+)-Rhododendrol

1. Planta medica

(-)-Sakuraresinoside

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

2,24-Dihydroxyursolic acid

1. Archives of pharmacal research

2alpha-Hydroxyursolic acid

1. Archives of pharmacal research

Acernikol

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Acerogenin

1. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan

Corilagin

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Geraniin

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Nikoenoside

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Quercetin 3-o-beta-D-glucuronide methyl ester

1. Archives of pharmacal research

Activities

Parthenocissus tricuspidata has 1 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant.

Antioxidant

1. Archives of pharmacal research

Preparations

Parthenocissus tricuspidata has 4 reported preparations identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include stem bark, bark extract, leaf extract, stem bark of Acer nikoense.

Stem bark

1. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan
2. Journal of natural products

Bark extract

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Leaf extract

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Stem bark of acer nikoense

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin