

Vitis Baileyana (cont.) 
Leaves: Stipules minutes, pale rusty; petiole mostly greater in length than 
half the width of blade, and 2/3 the length of midrib, cylindrical with a distinct 
narrow groove on upper side, green or pale red, with thin cottony pubesence; of 
nearly same diameter throughout; blade 24" to 4" wide by 2in 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 
inverted V-shaped, with sides little curved; apex short taper-—pointed; teeth ir- 
regular, 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 puibescent, paler green that 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: 2" to 5" long, very compound and compact, having a false tendril 
at insertion of peduncle, with rachis; peduncle in to 1" - very slender - more 
slender than rachis; rachis thickened, 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, versistent; 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, 
oure 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 of 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 distibct groove, which enlarges moder- 
ately 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 ovete, acute green. Germination 
very late, foliation, flowering and ripening about with V. cordifolia. 
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., Virginia.  .esccsvenes In October, 1889, I found a number of vines 
of this species along the borders of the Kanawha River in the vicinity of Kanawha 
Falls, West Virginia, and the same year reveived wood from Mr. J. K. Hoyt, of 
Buncombe Co., North Carolina, as the "Wild 'Possum Grape" which was grafted and 
grew, proving to be the same species. In September, 1890, Mr Hoyt sent me ripe frui 
fruit from other vines of the " 'Possum Grape" found wild in his vicinity, all 
being of this species. All plants of the species so far known to me grow along 
mountain streams at an altitude of 1500 to Z000 feet. 
--~ Foundations of American Grape Culture by T. V. Munson 1909 
PIO De ee TE aa 
