10 
The Bulletin 
Description of the Hope vine; Floral Characters .—In general, the 
vine characters of Hope are typical of such, as are found in the rotundi- 
folia species. The plant is only moderately vigorous and is subject to 
the ravages of Black Rot (Guignardia hidiuellii) in about the same de¬ 
gree as is the variety, Scuppernong. The main difference between 
this and other vines of the same species, however, lies in the floral 
characters. The flowers generally have neither the suppressed pistils 
of the staminate vines nor the recurved stamens of the common fruit¬ 
hearing vines, hut tliev possess a combination of upright stamens with 
an abundance of healihv viable pollen, similar to that of typical stam¬ 
inate vines, and fairly well developed pistils, which upon fertilization 
are generally capable of developing into normal fruit. These pistils are 
not as large as those of other fruit-bearing varieties, neither is the 
stigma so well developed (Plate I, Fig. 2) ; still, the pistils are func¬ 
tional, and average sized fruit crops are often produced. 
Occasionally, on some poorly nourished branch, which generally may 
be found on the lower or central portion of the vine, flower clusters are 
observed with some or all of the flowers representing various stages of 
development from the totally suppressed pistils of staminate flowers to 
the fairly well developed pistils of perfect flowers on other parts of the 
vine. 
The filaments of the stamens in all of the flowers of this vine have 
the same strength, diameter, and upright position as do those in flowers 
of staminate vines. In short, the flowers of this vine might be termed 
staminate flowers whose pistils have reached a point in regeneration 
where they have become functional. 
While the Hope vine is not as prolific in flower clusters as are some 
of our best staminate vines, nevertheless, it is quite representative of 
the average staminate vine. One or two flower clusters are usually pro¬ 
duced on a cane, while three and four, although less often observed, are 
not at all of rare occurrence. Frequently, also, especially when the vine 
grows vigorously, many branches are produced which are absolutely 
barren. 
The flower clusters of this vine are of fairly large size, considering 
the species. In fact, they are larger than those from the average stam¬ 
inate vine, and from external appearances, before the flowers begin to 
bloom, the clusters are seen to closely resemble those from a fairly good 
staminate vine. The number of buds on the cluster varies considerablv, 
just as do those from all other vines. Countings made in the field place 
the number of buds per cluster anywhere between 100 and 300. Our 
best staminate vine produces clusters with buds ranging in number all 
the-way from 200 to 384. It is probable that none of the fruit-bearing 
vines with reflxed stamens* produce clusters with more than 120 flowers, 
*Eden and San Monta are here excepted, because the former is considered a Munsoniana 
hybrid and the latter, supposedly a hybrid with a bunch grape, can probably be traced to a 
similar origin. 
