Parthenocissus /ˌpɑːrθɪnoʊˈsɪsəs/,[1] is a genus of tendril[2] climbing plants in the grape family, Vitaceae.
It contains about 12 species native to the Himalaya, eastern Asia and North America.
[2] The name derives from the Greek parthenos, "virgin", and kissos (Latinized as "cissus"), "ivy".
[5] Among the middle Miocene Sarmatian palynoflora from the Lavanttal Basin Austrian researchers have recognized Parthenocissus fossil pollen.
Key relatives of the fossil taxa found with Parthenocissus are presently confined to humid warm temperate environments, suggesting a subtropical climate during the middle Miocene in Austria.