Akebia quinata

Common Name: 
five-leaf akebia, hocolate vine
Scientific Name: 
Akebia quinata (Thunb./Houtt.) Dcne.
Family Name: 
Lardizabalaceae - Lardizabala Family
Identification Notes
Life Cycle
introduced perennial, reproducing by seed and rooting stems
Stems
climbing or trailing vine, woody, green when young turning brown with age, lenticels noticeable, deciduous to semi-evergreen
Growth habit of five-leaf Akebia
Growth habit of five-leaf Akebia
Leaves
alternate, palmately compound, leaflet up to five or sometimes 6 and stalked, leaflets obovate with notch at tip, blue-green and somewhat dull, new leaves have purple or brownish tinge
Leaves of Five-leaf Akebia
Leaves of Five-leaf Akebia
Leaves of Five-leaf Akebia
Flowers
3-sepaled, reddish to purple-brown, cultivars white or red, petals cup-shaped, chocolate scented; axillary raceme of 2 to 6, racemes of two male and the rest female flowers
Fruit
oblong or elliptic pod, large, soft, purplish, split open when mature, white pulp-like inside with brownish to black seeds
Seed pod of five-leaf Akebia
Seed pod of five-leaf Akebia