Order Vitales Genus Ampelopsis Rank Species | ||
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Variety Ampelopsis glandulosa var. brevipedunculata Scientific name Ampelopsis brevipedunculata Similar Ampelopsis, Vitaceae, Ampelopsis glandulosa var heter, Celastrus orbiculatus, Parthenocissus | ||
Ampelopsis glandulosa, with common names creeper, porcelain berry, Amur peppervine, and wild grape, is an ornamental plant, native to temperate areas of Asia. It is generally similar to, and potentially confused with, grape species (genus Vitis) and other Ampelopsis species.
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Description
Ampelopsis glandulosa is a deciduous, woody, perennial climbing vine with flowers and tendrils opposite the palmately lobed leaves. The leaves are white-shiny underneath with a coarsely toothed margin. Porcelain berry climbs via tendrils to a height of 4-6m (15-20 ft). Flowers are small, green-white, born in umbels opposite the leaves, and appear in June through August. Fruits are 4-8mm in diameter, circular, containing 2-4 seeds, and may be many colors including green, blue, purple, pink or yellow with black or brown speckles; many different colors are present on the same plant.
Porcelain berry can be confused with native grapes based on leaf shape but can be differentiated by cutting the stem and observing the pith. Grapes have brown or tan pith but porcelain berry has white pith.
Cultivation
Ampelopsis glandulosa var. brevipedunculata has distinctive medium blue fruit, and is an ornamental plant used in gardens. Porcelain berry is still widely cultivated despite knowledge of its invasiveness.
Conservation
It is a major invasive plant species in parts of the Eastern United States. It is invasive in urban settings as well as in more pastoral settings. Porcelain berry is often found in disturbed areas such as roadsides, old fields, and floodplains where sunlight is abundant Birds consume the seeds of porcelain berry and act as a vector to transport it. See Zoochory.
Chemistry
The unusual blue color of the berries is due to an anthocyanidins-flavonols copigmentation phenomenon.
Ampelopsin A, B and C are stilbene oligomers found in A. glandulosa var hancei (formerly A. brevipedunculata var. hancei.
