136 THE GRAPES OF NEW YORK. 



species. The roots are thick and fleshy, resembUng Vinifera. The fruit, 



while pleasant, is too small to be of cultural value. It is too tender for 



planting in the open ground where the thermometer drops much below 



freezing. California growers state that it does not flourish in dry shallow 



soils. It is ver\- susceptible to attacks of mildew, to which it usually 



succumbs when planted east of the Rocky Mountains. Californica grows 



readily from cuttings. It is sometimes used in its native country as an 



ornamental on account of its highly colored autumn foliage but is otherwise 



of no value. 



16. VITIS GIRDIANA Munson. 



I. Munson, Soc. Prom. .4?. Sci. Rpl.. 1887:50. Caliiornia grape. 2. lb., U. .'^. D. .4. Pom. 

 Bui., 3:10. iSqo. 3. lb.. Gar. ami For.. 3:474- iS'io. 4. lb., .4hi. Gard.. 12:660. iSqi. 

 Vallfv srapc. 5. Bailey, Gray's Syn. FL, 1:426. 1807. Valky grape. 6. Munson, Tcr. Sta. 

 Bui.. 56:2,^0, 2^50, iqoo. South Caliiornia grape. 7. Viala and Ravaz, Am. Vtncs, 1903:50. 

 V. Californica, var. Oirdiana. 



Vine vigorous, climbing; shoots scarcel}- angled, more or less covered with grayish 

 pubescence; diaphragms medium to thick; tendrils intermittent, bifid or trifid. Leaves 

 with medium to small stipules; blade broadly cordate, rather thin, entire or obscurely 

 three-lobed (sometimes distinctly three-lobed on young shoots) ; pctiolar sinus usually 

 narrow, rather deep; margin with many small and acute teeth; under surface covered 

 with thick grayish persistent pubescence. Cluster medium to large, compound, rather 

 loose; peduncle of medium length, slender. Berries small, black, with thin bloom; 

 skin thin but tough; medium to late in ripening. Sweet when ripe with a sharp 

 pungency in the skin. Seeds similar to those of Vitis califoniira. 



Girdiana was separated from \'itis californica by Munson in 1887. 

 It is closely allied to, and is by n^any botanists still considered a variety of 

 Californica. Wild hybrids with \'itis vinifera are frequently found in 

 regions where it is indigenous. 



Girdiana inhabits southern California in the region west and north of 

 Yuma and the valleys of southern California southward into Mexico. Its 

 northern limit is approximately the Mojave desert. Tlie individuals of the 

 species are very numerous, covering shrubs and trees in the regions where 

 it grows. 



The species is very suspectible to mildew and Ijlack-rot, and like 

 Californica is not resistant to phylloxera. Girdiana is more sensitive to 

 cold than Vinifera. Analyses show that tlie fruit of the species is deficient 

 in sugar and acid. Girdiana is but little known but certainly is of no value 



