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Key to Vitaceae

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1 Leaves simple, sometimes shallowly or deeply 3-5 (-7)-lobed.
  2 Tendrils not twining, terminating in adhesive disks; [tribe Parthenocisseae]
  2 Tendrils twining, lacking adhesive disks.
    3 Petals connate at their tips, falling together; pith tan to brown, interrupted by a diaphragm at each node (subg. Vitis) or continuous through the node (subg. Muscadinia); bark adherent (subg. Muscadinia) or exfoliating (subg. Vitis); tendrils bifid or trifid (subg. Vitis) or simple (subg. Muscadinia); [tribe Viteae].
    3 Petals separate at their tips, falling individually; pith white, continuous through the node; bark adherent; tendrils bifid or trifid
      4 Petals 5; stamens 5; upper leaf surfaces glabrous; [tribe Ampelopsideae]
      4 Petals 4; stamens 4; upper leaf surfaces puberulent with upright, whitish-gray hairs; [tribe Cisseae]
1 Leaves compound with either 3-5 (-7) or numerous leaflets.
        5 Leaves bipinnate to tripinnate, the leaflets on at least the better-developed leaves > 7; inflorescences axillary; [tribe Ampelopsideae]
        5 Leaves 3-7-foliolate; inflorescences axillary, leaf-opposed, or terminal.
          6 Leaflets sessile; leaflets pinnately lobed; [tribe Ampelopsideae]
          6 Leaflets petiolulate; leaflets toothed or entire.
image of plant
Show caption*© Emily Summerbell, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Emily Summerbell
             7 Leaves pedately 5-foliolate (the lateral 2 leaflets on either side borne on a common stalk, attached to one another above the summit of the petiole); [tribe Cayratieae]
             7 Leaves palmately 3-7-foliolate (the petiolules of all leaflets joined at the summit of the petiole).
               8 Inflorescences leaf-opposed or apparently terminal; leaves 3-7-foliolate; [tribe Parthenocisseae].
               8 Inflorescences axillary or leaf-opposed; leaves 3-foliolate (even the largest and best-developed).
                 9 Leaves fleshy, the blades > 1 mm thick when fresh; inflorescence axillary; [tribe Cayratieae]
                 9 Leaves herbaceous, the blades thin; inflorescence leaf-opposed; [tribe Cisseae]

Key F2: Leaves with 4-many leaflets (poorly developed leaves in some species with only 3 leaflets, but usually leaves elsewhere on the plant with 4 or 5+).

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image of plant
Show caption*© Emily Summerbell, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Emily Summerbell
1 Leaves palmately-pedately 5-foliolate (the lateral 2 leaflets on each side borne on a common Y-shaped stalk).
  2 Leaflets entire; sap milky
1 Leaves palmately compound (all the leaflets attached at a single point).
    3 Leaves > 6 dm wide
    3 Leaves < 3 dm wide.
      4 Leaflets with entire margins; [non-natives].
        5 Plants deciduous woody climbers (but not twining, or specialized climbing structures); leaflets usually 5 per leaf (occasionally 3 or 7); flowers maroon-colored, lacking petals but with 3 prominent sepals, the inflorescences axillary
        5 Plants evergreen shrubs or trees (occasionally partially epiphytic); leaflets usually 7-9 per leaf (occasionally 5 or 10); flowers yellowish-green or red, petals present, lacking showy prominent sepals, the inflorescences (most often) terminal
      4 Leaflets with serrate margins; [natives and non-natives].
          6 Stems armed with prickles scattered in the internodes
          6 Stems unarmed or with paired nodal spines.
             7 Inflorescence an umbel; leaves evergreen, glossy; stems often with paired nodal spines
             7 Inflorescence a panicle; leaves deciduous, dull; stems unarmed