AKEBIA

genus of woody vines comprising two species native to Asia but introduced elsewhere for their ornamental foliage and fast growth. The genus belongs to the family Lardizabalaceae. Five-leaf akebia, or chocolate vine (A. quinata), has five leaflets to each leaf arranged like the fingers on a hand; inconspicuous purplish flowers in small clusters; and oblong purple berries. Three-leaf akebia (A. trifoliata) has three leaflets to a leaf. Both species are rampant twining vines often used for shading and screening on arbors and fences and for ground covering on embankments.