like the bark, persistent, strong; internodes short to medium in 'ength, 2' to 5'; pith small, 

 meeting diaphragm abruptly. 



Leaves: Stipules small, 1/10' to 1/8' long by 3/4 as wide, slightly hairy outside, usually 

 pink or crimson (or rarely green), soon browning and falling; petiole from 1' to 2' long, cylindrical, 

 faintly or not at all grooved, thinly hairy or cottony along obscure striae when young, becoming 

 smooth or floccose with maturity; color dark red to pale red, or rarely light green, in mature leaf 

 set at right or acute angle with blade; blade, diameter generally 2' to 3' rarely 4', usually circu- 

 lar in general outline, rarely long cordate or sometimes reniform, sinuately folded about 1/4 

 toward upper surface ; basal sinus usually horse-shoe or D shaped, sometimes acute, or very obtuse ; 

 basal lobes sometimes lapping a little ; teeth medium to large, usually a little acute or right angled, 

 with nearly straight margins, rarely convex, mucronulate; ribs from 5 to 6, rarely 7 pairs, usually 

 alternating on opposite sides of midrib, slightly prominent upon both faces of very young leaves, 

 slightly hairy on lower surface along the ribs ; color in very young leaves pale reddish, then becom- 

 ing bright lively green (several shades lighter than V. vulpinaor V. rupestris) the lightest green of 

 any species, soon very smooth and shining as though varnished, especially below; texture dense but 

 brittle. At first sight the leaf greatly reminds one of that of V. rotundifolia, in size, shape, 

 toothing, smoothness and color, though being of a lighter green. 



Cluster: Fertile, small, 2' to 3' long; peduncle 1' to 2', very thick for size of cluster; nearly 

 equally forked, branches nearly half as long as cluster ; when fruit is ripe of a dull rusty brown, 

 firm, but brittle, pedicels 1/8' to I/O' long, enlarging rapidly upward, very warty; staminate, 

 similar to fertile but with more numerous flowers. 



Flowers: Fertile, petals and stamens commonly 5, set upon a distinct disc; stamens short 

 recurved ; pistil small, short ; style, short and very slender, with very small stigma; male; stamens 

 erect, straight, short. 



Berries: 12 to 50, 1/4' to 1/2' in diameter, spherical or oblate, nearly always black when 

 fully ripe (red or white varieties very rarely found, but long before they are ripe, they assume 

 a rose or pink color, hence are described by some as red grapes), moderate or little bloom; skin 

 thin, bearing brown, rough lenticular dots or lenticels; little pulp, very seedy, not very juicy, 

 astringent, of a sweetish taste, yet with little sugar or acid, with a peculiar, not very pleasant flavor, 

 resembling some apple flavor, often quite similar to V. cordifolia. 



Seeds: 1 to 4, large, 1/4' long by 1/5' broad, or less, when one, globular; color cinnamon 

 brown; beak short, thick, blunt; raphe prominent from beak, especially so as it passes the not at all 

 or little grooved top of seed, then expanding rapidly into the generally broad, prominent chalaza, 

 which is on center, or above center of back of seed, with shallow groove about it, with no groove 

 to beak'; ventral cavities nearly straight, approaching each other toward the beak, varying 

 little in color from body of seed. 



Plantlet: Cotyledons small, cordate or ovate, green. 



Viticultural Observations and Remarks 



Germinates slowly, about with V. Berlandieri or a little later, and earlier than V. Lincecumii; 

 foliation, flowering, ripening of fruit and foliage, late to very late, about with V. cordifolia except 

 that it holds its foliage later. Of fair vigor; growth of seedling vines first year about equal to 

 V. cordifolia; not fully erect. Hardy to endure drouth, matures wood early and withstands cold 

 well, having passed through a temperature of 15 degrees (F.) below zero, at Denison, Texas, 

 without the slightest injury, and a much lower degree in Southwestern Missouri. The vine 

 always appears healthy, the foliage resisting mildew well and hanging on late, about the same 

 as V. Berlandieri, and the fruit is not affected by Black Rot. Cuttings root with some difficulty, 

 or rather easier than Berlandieri. The fruit is not particularly valuable owing to the smallness 

 of the cluster, and the seedy, dry berry. This vine is valuable stock for grafting in dry climates 

 and very limy soils. Its slenderness in the wild woods was at first thought derogatory, but in 

 cultivation, it becomes quite stocky. 



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