CHAPTER XIV 



THE GRAPE 



Grapes belong to Vitis, the most important genus in the Vine 

 family (Vitace«), less notable plants in which are Virginia 

 creeper and several species of Cissus. Pomologists, however, 

 are interested onl}^ in Vitis in this family, the chief characters 

 of which are now to be given. 



239. The genus Vitis. — It is difficult to determine how many 

 species should be recognized in Vitis, as botanists divide the 

 genus differently. Probably all would agree that there are forty 

 to fifty species widely distributed in the temperate and sub- 

 tropical regions of the northern hemosphere. Of these, eleven 

 are more or less cultivated in North America for their fruit, 

 for stocks, or have been used in grape-breeding. There are, 

 however, but five species with cultivated varieties of present im- 

 portance in propagation or hybridization. The fruits are so 

 different as to furnish a usable key. 



Plants chmbing or trailing, rarely shrubby, with woody stems, and mostly 

 with coiling naked-tipped tendrils. Leaves alternate, simple, palmately 

 lobed, round-dentate, or heart-shaped-dentate. Stipules small, falling early. 

 Flowers polygamous-dioecious (some plants with perfect flowers, others 

 staminate with at most a rudimentary ovary), five-parted; petals separated 

 only at the base and falling off without expanding; disk hypogynous with 

 five nectariferous glands which are alternate with the stamens. Berry 

 globose or ovoid, few-seeded, and pulpy. Seeds usually 4, bony, pyriform, 

 and beak-like at the base. 



KEY TO CULTIVATED SPECIES OF VITIS 



A. Skin separating from the pulp. 



B. Clusters with 3-15 berries; bunch globular; berries 



falling from the bunch at maturity 1. V. rotundifolia. 



BB. Clusters with more than 15 berries (at least 

 under cultivation); bunch oblong; berries cling- 

 ing to the bunch at maturity. 



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