146 VITACE^E. ViTis. 



rounding ihe lower pari of ihe ovary, wilh which it is incorporated ; girt at the base by a 

 short ring or expansion of the disk, upon whicli the stamens are inserted. Ovary ovate, 

 partly innmersed in the disk, 2- (sometimes 3-) celled. Berry 1-2- (rarely 3-) celled, 

 1 _ 4-seedcd. Peduncles usually changed, in whole or in part, into tendrils. — Arnott. 



^. ViTis proper. Petals 5, mostly united at the apex : stamens 5 ; sli/!e short, conical : stigma 

 depressed and somewhat pel/ate. Peduncles sometimes partly changed into tendrils : Jloivers, in 

 the N. American species, polygamous ; the panicle or thyrsus formed of numerous small umbels. 



1. ViTis Labrusca, Linn. Fox Grape. 



Leaves broadly cordate, somewhat lobed and angular, repandly toothed, densely grayish- 

 tomentose or tawny underneath, the veins somewiiat ferruginous ; fertile panicles oblong, 

 compact, rather few-flowcrcd ; berries large, — Michx. fl. 2. p. 230; Pursh, Jl. 1. p. 169; 

 Ell. sk. 2. p. 689 ; Torr.fl. I. p. 264 ; Bigel. Jl. Bost. p. 93 ; DC. prodr. 1. p. 634 ; Dar- 

 lingt.Jl. Cest. p. 150 ; Hook. ft. Bor.-Am. 1. p. 1 15 ; Torr. ^ Gr.fl. N. Am. \.p. 244. 



Stem very long, straggling over bushes and shrubs, or climbing ihc highest trees, sometimes 

 6-8 inches in diameter near the base ; the younger branches clothed wilh a ferruginous 

 pubescence. Leaves usually 4-6 inches in diameter, sometimes much larger, often distinctly 

 3-lobed ; upper surface dark green, dull ; teelh short, mucronate. Panicles about 25 inches 

 long ; the fertile ones less compound than the sterile. Fruit nearly three-fourths of an inch in 

 diameter, globose, usually very dark purple when ripe, but sometimes amber-color or greenish 

 white, of a strong musky odor and somewhat rancid taste, filled wilh a tough pulp. 



Common in woods and swamps, Fl. Eai-ly in June. Fr. September. 



Several varieties of this grape have long been cultivated, but they all have more or less of a 

 tough pulp and strong flavor : the most esteemed are the Isabella, Schuylkill or Alexander's, 

 the Catawba and Bland's Grape. 



2. ViTis ^sTiVALis, Michx. Summer Grape. 



Leaves broadij- cordate, often 3 - 5-Iobed, or sinuately palmate, coarsely and unequally 

 toothed, sparingly ferruginous-tomentose underneath, at length somewhat smooth ; fertile 

 panicles long ; berries small. — Michx. ft. 2. p. 230 ; Pursh, fl. 1. p. 169 ; Ell. sk. 2. p 688 ; 

 Torr. fl.l.p. 265; DC. prodr. 1. p. 164 ; Darlingt. ft. Cest. p. 151 ; Torr. ^- Gr. fl. N. 

 Am. 1. p. 244. V. intermedia, Muhl. cat. p. ii6. 



Stem very long, climbing the highest trees. Leaves 4-7 inches wide, often deeply lobed, 

 with the sinuses rounded ; the upper surface bright green, not shining ; under surface clothed 

 with a loose reddish cobweb-like pubescence, particularly when young; when old, sparsely 

 hairy, with much less of the cobweb-like down. Panicles larger than in the preceding species, 

 and more compound. Berries about one-fourth of an inch in diameter, globose, deep blue or 

 almost black, of a pleasant flavor. 



