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There seem to be some confusion on Parthenocissus species identity,
geographic range, and VN's awareness of virginal reproduction...
Let me clarify at least some points:
(1) Ivy League's "Boston ivy" (Parthenocissus tricuspidata) is native
to Asia, introduced to North America, and while nicknamed after Boston,
is cultivated in many places. It is "readily distinguished from
Virginia creeper by the simple leaves (always palmately compound with 5
leaflets in Virginia creeper)".
See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_ivy
(2) Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia creeper, American ivy,
five-leaved ivy, Woodbine) is NATIVE to North America, and while named
by Virginia, definitely inhabits a much wider territory, up to Canada.
It is also used as decorative, and was used by Native Americans as a
herbal medicine.
See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_creeper
(3) Parthenocissus has been widespread as decorative in culture in
Russia (introduced; one species native to RussianFar East) since 17th
century, and VN must have been well familiar with it, and its Latin
name.
(4) We do NOT know which of the two abovementioned species adorned the
walls of Wordsmith Hall.
Virginia creeper is likely, but still both are possible. One would need
to see the plant. See also (7) below on Waindell and St. Bart.
"Parthenocissus tricuspidata is common on the Commons of eastern
colleges, but unless you are in the outfield of Wrigley Field, where
everyone knows that Boston ivy covers the wall, you might need some
tips on how to identify this lush vine".
See: http://www.ehow.com/how_2066854_identify-boston-ivy.html
(5) Although "Parthenocissus" is called 'maiden grape' in Russian
('devichii vinograd') and belongs to grape family (Vitaceae), it is NOT
edible or used for wine-making!!
Parthenocissus is not to be confused with true wild grapes (Vitis spp.,
grapevine) that also grow in North America, and are quite suitable for
making wine.
See: http://www.wildfoods.info/wildfoods/wildgrape.html
(6) "Partheno-" in "Parthenocissus" is indeed an obvious connection to
virginal reproduction ("parthenogenesis", reproduction of virginal
females without fertilization by males).
Parthenogenesis is a widespread, well-documented reproductive mode in
many insects, including Lepidoptera.
See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthenogenesis
(7) Translation of PF by Ilyin has "Plyushchevyi Kholl" (= Ivy Hall),
which is more vague than Parthenocissus because "plyushch" usually
means in Russian the European ivy (Hedera helix, family Araliaceae;
Russian "plyushch").
Ilyin does the same for Pnin's Waindell, where its "ivied galleries"
(Pnin 1, 1) are translated as "uvitye plyushchom", which by the way is
also a Russian cliché referring to Hedera that adorns Bacchus' thyrse,
makes up poets' wreaths, decorates Master & Margarita's eternal
dwelling, is the "window-invading ivy" across the street from Clara
Stoboy's house in Berlin, etc etc.
Victor's St. Bart, Mass., was "glossily coated on one side with
American ivy" (Pnin 4, 4). Here, Ilyin recognized Virginia creeper and
correctly translated "American ivy" as "pyatilistnyi plyushch"
("five-leaved ivy", = Virginia Creeper, P. quinquefolia).
Parthenocissus indeed is sometimes called "pyatilistnyi plyushch" in
Russian, but its much more common name is "devichii vinograd."
There is generally a lot of confusion in both languages regarding
"ivies", "creepers," "vines" that include quite different plants that
look the same to a non-specialist, but always attracted attention not
just by creeping but also by being used for making wine or beer (hops =
Humulus), or being toxic like poison ivy (Rhus, family Anacardiaceae,
no relation to all of the abovementioned). Thee is no poison ivy in
Russia. Cf. in Pnin (5, 2) on Varvara Bolotov who "was nonplused and
enchanted by the number of plants and creatures she could not
identify.... was known to have brought... a profusion of beautiful
poison-ivy leaves, hugged to her pink, freckled breast."
See also the famous eight-line poem "Khmel' " ("Hops") by Pasternak:
"Pod rakitoi, uvitoi plyushchom..." ("Under an ivied willow..."). This
poem is based on a presumed botanical error; it ends "I erred: those
thickets are covered with hops, not with ivy" [double meaning of "
khmel' " as both "hops" and "intoxication (by love)"].
A forgivable (while most likely intentional) error for a city-living
Russian not much interested in natural science--see VN's commentary to
Babette Deutsch's Eugene Onegin translation with her "birds in beech
and larch."
(8) Translation of PF by Véra Nabokov has a transliterated version
("Partenosissus"), which follows English pronunciation of the Latin
name, and suspiciously reminds of 'missus' or even 'sissies' which
resembles an additional Kinbote-pun. A direct transliteration from
Latin into Russian would have been "-tsissus," with a hard "ts" that
has its own Cyrillic character.
(9) I am not delving here into the symbolic "language of flowers" in
Russian tradition but note that "ivy" (Hedera) was always standing for
friendship, love, and affection.
Respectfully,
Victor Fet