Vitis arizonica
Engelm.
Canyon grape
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(c) Pete Siminski, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Pete Siminski
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Jackie Wagner, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Summary
Source: WikipediaVitis arizonica is a North American species of wild grape. It is a deciduous vine. Common names for the grape are Arizona grape, canyon grape, and uva del monte. It has historically been used as a food source by Indigenous peoples of the Southwest. Canyon grape can tolerate drought and cold temperatures. It grows in a variety of habitats including riparian zones and shady canyons. It can hybridize with mustang grape, sweet mountain grape, and California wild grape where their ranges overlap.
Description
A vine. It climbs weakly. The stems are 2-6 m long. Young twigs are densely hairy. The leaves are broadly heart shaped and 3-10 cm long and wide. They have irregular teeth and can have lobes. There are tendrils opposite the leaves. The flowering shoots are opposite the leaves. The flowers have 5 white petals. The fruit are in clusters. The fruit are small. They are 8-10 mm across and black.
Edible Uses
The fruit, about 10mm in diameter and borne in bunches, is fairly small but quite luscious, and can be eaten raw or dried for winter use. Leaves can be eaten raw and chewed to allay thirst; young leaves are also good wrapped around other foods and baked, imparting a pleasant flavour. Young tendrils can be eaten raw or cooked.
Traditional Uses
The fruit are eaten raw. They are also used for jelly. The leaves can be salted and soaked and then cooked and eaten.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Medicinal Uses
None known
Distribution
It is a tropical plant. It grows along streams between 600-2,300 m above sea level.
Where It Grows
Central America, Mexico, North America, USA,
Cultivation
Prefers a deep rich moist well-drained moderately fertile loam. Grows best in a calcareous soil. Succeeds in sun or partial shade though a warm sunny position is required for the fruit to ripen. Plants climb by means of tendrils. Any pruning should be carried out in winter when the plants are dormant otherwise they bleed profusely. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus.
Propagation
Seed is best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe. Six weeks of cold stratification improves germination, so stored seed should also be sown in a cold frame as soon as it is obtained. Germination usually occurs in the first spring but can take another 12 months. Prick out seedlings into individual pots when large enough to handle and grow on in a cold frame through their first winter, then plant out in early summer. Cuttings of mature wood from the current season's growth can be taken in December or January and rooted in a frame. These can be 15–30cm long, or short sections about 5cm long with a single bud at the top. For the shorter sections, remove a thin, narrow strip of bark about 3cm long from the lower portion of one side to encourage callusing and root formation; these shorter cuttings require a more sheltered environment than longer ones. Layering is also an option.
Other Uses
A yellow dye is obtained from the fresh or dried leaves.
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.
Canadian Moonseed
Menispermum canadense
Cbaile19
Canyon grape
Vitis arizonica
(c) Pete Siminski, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Pete Siminski
Canadian Moonseed: No tendrils, single crescent/moon-shaped seed, leaf stem attaches to underside of leaf.
Canyon grape: Vine with tendrils, round seeds, leaf stem at edge of leaf, bark that peels.
Also Known As
Uli, Uva
References (11)
- Altschul, S.V.R., 1973, Drugs and Foods from Little-known Plants. Notes in Harvard University Herbaria. Harvard Univ. Press. Massachusetts. no. 2680
- Amer. Naturalist 2:321. 1868
- Beckstrom-Sternberg, Stephen M., and James A. Duke. "The Foodplant Database." http://probe.nalusda.gov:8300/cgi-bin/browse/foodplantdb.(ACEDB version 4.0 - data version July 1994)
- Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 681
- https://www.fireflyforest.com/flowers/category/edible-plants/ Edible Plants – Southeastern Arizona Wildflowers and Plants
Show all 11 references Hide references
- LaRochelle, S. & Berkes F., 2003, Traditional Ecological Knowledge and practice for Edible Wild Plants - Mexico. Int. J. Sustain Dev. World Ecol. 10:361-375
- Moerman, D. F., 2010, Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press. p 598
- Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
- Segura, S., et al, 2018, The edible fruit species in Mexico. Genet Resour Crop Evol (2018) 65:1767–1793
- World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- Yetman, D., 2002, The Guarijios of the Sierra Madre: Hidden People of Northwestern Mexico. University of New Mexico Press. p 229
