Autumn vines

The old warehouse on Erie Street is covered with vines showing fall color.

On the north side of the building, red virginia creeper vine (Parthenocissus quinquifolia) hangs from old poison ivy branchlets. The poison ivy vines were cut at the ground a few years ago, so there is not any poison ivy still alive, but poison ivy characteristically puts branches like this sticking out a yard or so from the vine, now the dead branches provide support for the Virginia creeper.

Link to Parthenocissus quinquifolia:

Link to Parthenocissus quinquifolia:

Link to Parthenocissus quinquifolia:

Link to previous post on poison ivy:

Virginia creeper grows on the ground too, beside the building.

On the east side of the building the colorful vines are largely another kind of Parthenocissus. This is Parthenocissus tricuspidata, also called Boston ivy. It shows a good lot of berries here.

Link to previous post on Parthenocissus tricuspidata:


The vine on the east side of the building with the yellow and still green leaves is oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus). This must be a male plant because there aren't any of the colorful fruits on it. The way the vines wrap like a python around other supporting stems is typical of the bittersweet vine.

Link to Celastrus orbiculatus:

Virginia creeper is native to North America but it has been planted as an ornamental in Europe many years ago and has spread wild.

Link to Virginia creeper in Europe:

Another link to Virginia creeper in Europe:

Pictures taken October 13, 2009.