84 



WEEDS AXD USEFUL PLANTS. 



have long abortive branches at base retrograding into tendrils. Fntit small, greenish 

 amber color, or sometimes nearly black when mature, ripening after frost, very acerb. 

 Thickets, &:c.: frequent. i^Z. June. JV. November.' 



Obs. The flowers of this vine are delightfully fragrant. The fi'uit 

 though too acid for eating is said to afford a very fine wine. There is a 

 variety with broader and more cut and toothed leaves (var. riparia, 

 Gray.) 



5. V. vulpi'na, L. Stem and branches with a close greyish-brown 

 bark ; leaves orbicular, coarsely toothed W'ith bluntish teeth, cordate at 

 base, smooth and shining on both sides ; fertile racemes compound, um- 

 bellulate ; berries large. 



YuLPiNE OE Foxy Yitis. Fox-Grape, of the Southern States; also 

 called " Muscadine," and " Bullet- or Bull-Grape." 



Stem20-o0 feet or more in length, with an adhesive greyish minutely warty bark. 

 Leaves 2-3 inches in diameter. Berries globose, large (half an inch to three quarters in 

 diameter), bluish black when mature, with a thick tough skin and not unpleasant flavor. 



Woodlands and banks of streams : Virginia to Florida. i^Z. May -June. IV. Julv- 

 August. 



Obs. The most striking feature of this vine, is the close even te xture 

 of its grey bark, — somewhat resembling that of the Beech-tree, or Horn- 

 beam ; while all the other species, so far as I know, have a loose, lamel- 

 lated, stringy, dark-brown bark, after the first years growth. It is 

 quite probable, as suggested by Mr. Elliott, that this is the original 

 " Fox-Grape," or Y. vulpina, of Lixxaeus. I have observed it growing 

 in abundance in the vicinity of the village of Suffolk, Yirginia ; but 

 have not seen the fruit. The inhabitants assured me, however, that the 

 large black berries were quite palatable, — and were uniformly, in that 

 region, known by the name of Fox-grapes. Mr. Elliott thought the 

 species might be, some day, advantageously cultivated. 



2. AMPELOP'SIS, 3Ix. Yirginia Creeper. 



[Greek, Ampelos, a vine, and opsis, aspect ; from its resemblance to the vine.] 



Calyx slightly 5-toothed, without a lining disk. Petals 5, concave, 

 thick, opening at apex, expanding before they fall. 

 1. A. quinquefo'lia, Mx. Leaves digitate, with 5 oblong lanceolate 

 leaflets ; flowers in cymose clusters. 



Five-leaved Ampelopsis. Yirginia Creeper. American Ivy. 



Siem 10-50 feet long, diffusely branching, climbing trees and walls, adhering to them 

 by sucker-like expansions at ttie tips of the tendrils.. Leaflets 2-4 inches long with a 

 few mucronate teeth, smooth ; cov^mon petiole 2-6 inches long. Flowers yellowish-green. 

 Berries bluish-black ; peduncles crimson. 



Woods and rocks : common. Fl. July. Fr. October. 



Obs. This native vine is one of the most oruameutal of the climbers 

 and is much cultivated, both in this country and in Europe for covering 

 walls and buildings. It is perfectly hardy and gives a dense mass of 

 brilliant green throughout the summer which in the autumn changes to 

 the richest shades of crimson and purple. * 



