CHAPTER XXXII 



VITACE^ (Grape Family) 



Family Description. — Members of the grape family are 

 either climbers or erect shrubs with nodose joints. There is 

 an abundance of watery sap. The leaves are alternate and 

 petioled, either simple (Vitis) 

 or compound {Parthenocissus) 

 (Fig. 206). The inflores- 

 cence is commonly a panicle 

 {Vitis) or a cyme {Partheno- 

 cissus). The flowers (Fig. 

 210) are small, greenish, 

 perfect or polygamo-dioecious 

 (perfect flowers on one indi- 

 vidual and imperfect on 

 another). The calyx is en- 

 tire or four- to five-toothed. 

 The four to five petals are 

 either separate or united and 

 fall away very soon after 

 development. Stamens are 

 four to five in number and 

 opposite the petals. The 



single ovary has two to six cells with one to two ovules in 

 each locule. The fruit is commonly a two-celled berry. 



Geographical. — There are about 10 genera and 450 species in this family, 

 many of which are natives to tropical countries. 



491 



Fig. 206. — Compound digitate leaf 

 of Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus 

 quinquefolia). 



