Ampelopsis tricuspidata Siebold & Zuccarini, Abh. Math.-Phys. Cl. Königl. Bayer. Akad. Wiss. 4(2): 196. 1845; Cissus thunbergii Siebold & Zuccarini; Parthenocissus thunbergii (Siebold & Zuccarini) Nakai; Psedera thunbergii (Siebold & Zuccarini) Nakai; P. tricuspidata (Siebold & Zuccarini) Rehder; Quinaria tricuspidata (Siebold & Zuccarini) Koehne; Vitis inconstans Miquel; V. taquetii H. Léveillé; V. thunbergii (Siebold & Zuccarini) Druce (1917), not Siebold & Zuccarini (1845).

Branchlets terete, nearly glabrous or sparsely pilose; tendrils 5-9-branched, young apex expanded and ball-shaped. Leaves simple, usually 3-lobed on short branches, or small and unlobed on long branches; petiole 4-12 cm, glabrous or sparsely pubescent; blade obovoid, 4.5-17 × 4-16 cm, abaxially glabrous or midvein abaxially sparsely pubescent, basal veins 5, lateral veins 3-5 pairs on each side, veinlets slightly raised abaxially, inconspicuous adaxially, base cordate, margin with rough teeth on each side, apex acute. Polychasium 2.5-12.5 cm; rachis inconspicuous; peduncles 1-3.5 cm, nearly glabrous. Pedicel 2-3 mm, glabrous. Buds obovoid-elliptic, 2-3 mm, apex rounded. Calyx entire or undulate. Petals elliptic, 1.8-2.7 mm, glabrous. Filaments 1.5-2.4 mm; anthers ovoid-elliptic, 0.7-1.4 mm. Disk inconspicuous. Ovary oval; style conspicuous, base thick; stigma not enlarged. Berry 1-1.5 cm in diam., 1-3-seeded. Seeds obovoid, base with a sharp, short rostrum, apex rounded. Fl. May-Aug, fr. Sep-Oct. 2n = 40.

This species is widely cultivated as an attractive ornamental climber in China and in many other countries. Its roots have been used to cure lumps and ecchymosis.

Shrublands, cliffs, rocky hillsides; 100-1200 m. Anhui, Fujian, Hebei, Henan, Jiangsu, Jilin, Liaoning, Shandong, Taiwan, Zhejiang [Japan, Korea].