upper surface, thus giving the vine quite a distinct aspect from all other species, but more 

 like Berlandieri than any other. 



Roots: Thickening downward from collar in one year seedlings and sparingly branched, 

 fleshy, transversely wrinkled, resistant to Phylloxera, moderately penetrating, but not sufficiently 

 to endure the Texas climate well. 



Wood: .Young angled, becoming nearly cylindrical at maturity, or obscurely angled; 

 finely, but irregularly striated, and smooth, the thin cottony pubescence disappearing before 

 close of first season's growth; color when mature pale hazel or light brown; rather softer than in 

 other species of this series; nodes moderately enlarged; diaphragm 1/8' thick, thicker on side 

 next bud than opposite to it; bud sub-conical, acute, same color as mature annual wood, in 

 unfolding pale brown at first, first appearance of leaves pinkish-green, tip closed; tendrils inter- 

 mittent, mostly bifid, weak, persistent, green when young, with few cottony hairs; internodes 

 short, 1' to 4', seldom more; pith large, enlarged much at lower end of internode; pale brown. 



Leaves: Stipules minute, pale rusty; petiole mostly greater in length than half the width 

 of blade, and 2/3 the length of mid-rib, cylindrical with a distinct narrow groove on upper side; 

 green or pale red, with thin cottony pubescence; of nearly same diameter throughout; blade 

 23^' to 4' wide by 2)4,' to 4' from insertion of petiole to apex, cordate in general outline, rarely 

 lobed more than to the extent of two unequal shoulders similarly with V. cinerea, basal sinus 

 narrowly A shaped, with sides little curved; apex short taper-pointed; teeth irregular, small, 

 short convex, obtuse with distinct mucron; ribs in 7 to 9 nearly opposite pairs, each terminating 

 in the mucron of one of the larger teeth, scarcely at all pubescent, paler green than surface between ; 

 both faces generally devoid of pubescent hairs, above moderately wrinkled, not shining and not attacked 

 by the Leaf -folder {Desmia funeralis) ; persisting to late in the fall. 



Cluster: 23^' to 5' long, very compound and compact, having a false tendril at insertion of 

 peduncle, with rachis; peduncle }^' to 1' — very slender — more slender than rachis; rachis thick- 

 ened, dull green, divisions slender; pedicels 1/8' to 1/6' long, very slender having few small warts, 

 receptacle enlarged when fruit is ripe. 



Flowers: Minute, with all parts very delicate, more so than in any other species; stamens 

 and petals mostly 5, pistil very slender, stigma scarcely visible to naked eye; in fertile flowers 

 stamens reflexed; berries 1/6' to 5/16' in diameter, spherical, shining black with little or no bloom, 

 persistent; skin thin, tough with bright red juice; contents juicy, without pulp, but a greenish 

 matter attached closely to seeds, as in V. cordifolia; possessing a similar flavor with V. cinerea, 

 pure sprightly, vinous; very acid until fully ripe, then sugary; ripe about with V. cordifolia, or 

 earlier. 



Seeds: 1 to 3, mostly 2, 1/8' to 1/6' long by 1/8' broad, similar in color to those in V, cinerea, 

 but darker; beak very short, small, distinct, about the same color as body of seed; raphe visible 

 from base of beak as a fine hair to notched top of seed where it disappears in a distinct groove, 

 which enlarges moderately in back of seed, containing only a trace of chalaza, a faint groove 

 extends from basin to beak; ventral depressions broad, distinct, diverging from beak, paler color 

 than body of seed. The seeds from every locality of collection so far have chalaza depressed. 



Plantlet: Seed leaves very small, narrowly ovate, acute green. Germination very late, 

 foliation, flowering and ripening about with V. cordifolia. 



Viticultural Observations and Remarks 



In 1883-4 I received portions of vines with clusters of this peculiar little grape, among 

 specimens of several other species, from Mr. James G. Wertz, of Salem, Roanoke Co., Va. 

 I was unable to classify it satisfactorily with any known species, and planted seeds from which 

 grew a number of vines, some staminate, some pistillate, all of same peculiar character, showing 

 no variation toward any other known species as seedHngs of hybrids have invariably done with me. 

 These vines have flowered and fruited many times in my grounds. It appears to be a connecting 



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