THE WILD VINE FAMILY (Vitaceae)

The Vitaceae are a family of flowering plants, including the grapevine and Virginia creeper. It includes woody climbers, lianas, shrubs and a few succulents, either evergreens or deciduous. The climbers mostly have tendrils to aid attachment to their support structures. The family is economically important as grapes (Vitis sp) are an important fruit crop and, when fermented, produce wine.

Leaves are usually arranged oppositely, veins are palmate, (spreading like the fingers of a hand) and may be deeply dissected or subdivided into separate leaflets (compound palmate). The underside of the leaves may be covered with felted hairs and the margins are often toothed. Flowers are inconspicuous, green-white in colour. Pollination may be by wind or, in the case of Virginia creeper, by bees attracted by rich supplies of nectar. Fruits are mainly fleshy berries forms of several compartments, each containing one or two seeds.

(source: Wikipedia)