Scientific Name
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Common Name
Virginia creeper

HIGHLY TOXIC, MAY BE FATAL IF EATEN!

Characteristics

Family
Vitaceae
Plant Description
Climbing vine with tendrils; leaves alternate, palmately divided with 5 toothed leaflets; flowers small and inconspicuous; fruit a dark blue berry in a terminal cluster.
Origin
USA, NC
Distribution
Throughout.
Where Found
Forest or natural area, in woods, fields; weedy in disturbed areas; in landscape cultivated as an ornamental, climbing woody vine.
Mode
Ingestion.
Poisonous Part
Berries.
Symptoms
Nausea, abdominal pain, bloody vomiting and diarrhea, dilated pupils, headache, sweating, weak pulse, drowsiness, twitching of face
Toxic Principle
Oxalic acid and possibly others.
Severity
HIGHLY TOXIC, MAY BE FATAL IF EATEN!

"Poisonous Plants of North Carolina," Dr. Alice B. Russell, Department of Horticultural Science; Dr. James W. Hardin, Botany; Dr. Larry Grand, Plant Pathology; and Dr. Angela Fraser, Family and Consumer Sciences; North Carolina State University. All Pictures Copyright @1997Alice B. Russell, James W. Hardin, Larry Grand. Computer programming, Miguel A. Buendia; graphics, Brad Capel.

Disclaimer: The list of poisonous plants on this web site does not necessarily include every poisonous plant that is known, or that might be found in an urban landscape or home. North Carolina State University does not advise eating any of the plants included in this web site. The information concerning edibility is taken from the literature, and the degree of reliability is unknown. We discourage the use of any of these plants for self medication. In cases of accidental exposure or ingestion, contact the Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222.

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