Dicotyledones. 77 



I. VITIS. Grape. 



(The Latin name.) 



Plants climbing high by coiling tendrils. Leaves simple, rounded, 

 variously sharply-incised, and lobed. Flowers polygamo-dicecious, 

 sometimes perfect, borne in a compound thyrse. Petals falling off 

 without expanding. Five nectariferous glands alternating with the 

 stamens. Fruit, a pulpy, edible berry. 



1. Vitis aestivalis, Michx. (L., cestivalis, pertaining to summer.) SUMMER 

 or SMALL GRAPE. Terete branches climbing high. Leaves large, dentate, or 3-5- 

 lobed ; young leaves and branches quite woolly. Tendrils and flower clusters not 

 present opposite each third leaf. Berries sour, but edible, with a bloom. In 

 thickets. 



2. Vitis cinerea, Englm. (L., cinereus, ashy.) DOWNY GRAPE. Climbing. 

 Branches angled. Leaves entire or only slightly 3-lobed, dentate; pubescence 

 whitish or grayish, especially pronounced on the under side of leaf. Berries with- 

 out bloom, black, edible, somewhat sour. 



3. Vitis riparia, Michx. (L., riparius, relating to a river bank.) RIVERSIDE 

 or SWEET-SCENTED GRAPE. Climbing or trailing. Branches only slightly angled 

 or rounded. Plant glabrous throughout. Leaves shining, mostly sharply 3-7- 

 lobed ; stipules % to \ inch long, persisting until the fruit is formed. Berries bluish 

 black, with a bloom, sweetish, approaching \ inch in diameter. Along rocky 

 stream banks or near water. 



4. Vitis cordifblia, Michx. (L., cor, cordis, heart ; folium, leaf.) FROST or 

 CHICKEN GRAPE. Climbing. Branches round or only slightly angled. Leaves 

 shining above, only slightly pubescent beneath, acuminate, very coarsely serrate, 

 sometimes slightly 3-lobed, cordate at the base; stipules small. Berries black and 

 shining, ripening after frost. In moist thickets and along streams. 



H. AMPELOPSIS. Virginia Creeper. 



(Gr., ampelos, a vine; opsis, appearance.) 



Mostly climbing, woody vines. Leaves digitately 3-5, mostly 5- 

 foliate. Leaflets oblong-lanceolate, sparingly serrate above. Tendrils 

 with clinging, suckerlike disks at their tips. 



i. Ampelopsis quinquefolia. (L., quinque, five; folium, leaf.) VIRGINIA 

 CREEPER, FALSE GRAPE, or AMERICAN IVY. Climbing high on trees or walls. 

 Clinging sometimes by rootlets as well as by tendrils. Flowers in panicles, which 

 are spreading in fruit. Berries bluish. In woods and thickets. Commonly planted 

 for covering walls. 



