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Vitis aestivalis subsp. argentifolia

(Munson) Fernald

Summer grape

Vitaceae Edible: Fruit, Leaves, Sap 11,991 iNaturalist observations
Has a deadly poisonous lookalike — see comparison below

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no rights reserved, uploaded by Reuven Martin

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(c) Laura Clark, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Laura Clark

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(c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman

Vitis aestivalis, the summer grape, or pigeon grape is a species of grape native to eastern North America from southern Ontario east to Maine, west to Oklahoma, and south to Florida and Texas. It is a vigorous vine, growing to 10 m or more high on trees. The leaves are 7–20 cm long, suborbicular, and usually a little broader than long; they are variable in shape, from unlobed to deeply three- or five-lobed, green above, and densely hairy below. The flowers are produced at every third node in a dense panicle 5–15 cm long. The fruit is a small grape 5–14 mm diameter, dark purple or black in colour. It is the official state grape of Missouri. Summer grape prefers a drier upland habitat. The four varieties are: V. a. var. aestivalis V. a. var. bicolor Deam (syn. var. argentifolia Fernald; Silverleaf Grape), formerly called Vitis bicolor, but now considered a northern variation of Vitis aestivalis, native range is in the Northeastern United States and parts of Southern Ontario V. a. var. lincecumii (Buckley) Munson V. a. var. bourquiniana L.H. Bailey, native to the south, sometimes called Vitis bourquiniana, has tomentose undersides to the leaves

Description

A temperate vine of the Vitaceae family, one of approximately 60-70 species of Vitis.

This description is brief — help expand it

Edible Uses

The fruit, leaves, and sap are all edible portions.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant.

Where It Grows

Canada, Europe, North America, USA,

Notes

There are 60 to 70 species of Vitis.

Dangerous Lookalikes

This plant can be confused with the following toxic species. Always verify identification carefully before consuming any wild plant.

DEADLY

Canadian Moonseed

Menispermum canadense

Cbaile19

Safe

Summer grape

Vitis aestivalis subsp. argentifolia

no rights reserved, uploaded by Reuven Martin

Canadian Moonseed: No tendrils, single crescent/moon-shaped seed, leaf stem attaches to underside of leaf.

Summer grape: Vine with tendrils, round seeds, leaf stem at edge of leaf, bark that peels.

References (2)

  • Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
  • Rhodora 38:428. 1936 (in nota)

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