39 
a. Berries small, 3-6 or rarely 7 lines in diameter, (in No, 7 larger,) 
seeds more or less rounded on the top, with the raphe often more or less prominent 
on the top and back; or inconspicuous. All the species of this group have (on well 
grown shoots) intermittent tendrils. 
1, V. rupestris, Scheele. Bush Grape or Sand Grape.—A small 
bushy plant, often without any tendrils, rarely somewhat climbing ; 
leaves small (2-3 inches wide) and often folded, mostly broader than 
long, heart-shape or truncate at base, scarcely ever slightly lobed, 
with broad coarse teeth and usually an abruptly elongated point, 
glabrous, and of a glaucous or light green color; berries middle 
sized, in very small bunches; seeds mostly 3-4, round, with an ex- 
tremely short beak, obtuse, with a small chalaza; raphe very slen- 
der or invisible. Missouri to Texas and probably New Mexico. 
In Missouri and Arkansas it grows on the gravelly banks and over- 
flowed bars of mountain streams; in Texas also on rocky plains, 
whence the Latin name. Its luscious fruit ripens in Missouri in 
August. Not cultivated. 7 ; 
2. VY. cordifolia, Mchx. Winter, Frost, or Chicken Grape.—Tall 
(or more rarely low), climbing by the aid of intermitting branched 
tendrils, trunks often 6-9 inches in diameter, with loose shreddy 
bark. Leaves middle-sized or small (23-3 or 4 inches in diameter), 
round-heart shaped, or truncate at base, mostly entire or very 
’ slightly tri-lobed on the edges, with broad shallow teeth, usually 
smooth and shining, more on the upper than on the lower side; the 
young ones sometimes, and very rarely the old ones, with short hair 
on the ribs below; panicles compound, large and loose; berries 
among the smallest, in large mostly loose bunches, black, without a 
bloom and without tough pulp; maturing late in the fall, usually 
with a single short and thick seed, marked by a more or less prom- 
inent raphe. New England to Texas and westward to the limits of 
the wooded part of the Mississippivalley. The flowers, principally 
the sterile (male), are especially fragrant. Not cultivated. 
8. V. riparia, Mchx. Riverside Grape.—Similar to the last, but 
usually a smaller plant, with larger (38-5 inches in diameter) and 
more or less incisely 3-lobed, glabrous, shining (or, rarely, when 
young, slightly hairy) leaves, the lobes long and pointed, the teeth 
also more pointed than in V. cordifolia; panicles rather small and 
compact ; derries usually larger than in the last, mostly with a bloom, 
in smaller and often more compact bunches, without pulp, com- 
monly 1 or 2-seeded; seeds obtuse, or sometimes very slightly de- 
pressed, with the raphe often almost obliterated. As far to the 
south as the last, and much farther north and west. It is the only 
grape-vine in Lower Canada, being found even 60 miles north of 
Quebec, and the only one on the eastern slope of the Rocky Moun- 
tains. The northern form, in Canada, northern New fork to 
Michigan and Nebraska, has fewer and larger berries in a bunch 
and is easily distinguished from V. cordifolia. The south-western 
form, however, a taller plant, with smaller black. berries, approaches 
more closely to this last species. The truit ripens earlier and is 
much pleasanter. Cultivated. 
