Vitis berlandieri

Vitis berlandieri is a species of grape native to the southern North America, primarily Texas, New Mexico and Arkansas. It is primarily known for good tolerance against soils with a high content of lime, which can cause chlorosis in many vines of American origin. Lime is a characteristic of the soils of many classical French wine regions and highly regarded vineyard sites, and many Vitis vinifera cultivars were well suited to these growing conditions. When American vines were imported to Europe as rootstocks for grafting V. vinifera on, in the wake of the Great French wine blight, it initially proved difficult to find vine species that would grow well in lime-rich soil. V. berlandieri, which had adapted to limestone hills in central Texas, provided the lime tolerance needed to solve this problem. However, V. berlandieri itself is poorly adapted to grafting. Therefore, various rootstocks resistant against both phylloxera and lime, and suitable for viticulture, were produced by crossing V. berlandieri and Vitis riparia, Vitis rupestris or V. vinifera. Vitis berlandieri is also known as Fall Grape. In some classifications it is considered to be a subspecies of Vitis cinerea.

Description

A deciduous climber growing to 10m, hardy to UK zone 7 with hermaphroditic flowers in June to July and seeds ripening August to September. Thrives in well-drained light sandy, medium loamy, or heavy clay soils across mildly acidic, neutral, and mildly alkaline pH ranges. Tolerates semi-shade or full sun with dry or moist soil.

Edible Uses

The fruit has a rich, pleasant flavour and, while rather small, is borne in very large clusters. It carries a slightly bitter edge but becomes pleasant when fully ripe. It can be eaten raw or dried for winter use. Young leaves can be 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 or used for wine.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

None known

Distribution

It is a temperate plant.

Where It Grows

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. This species is used in breeding programmes for improved grape cultivars. It produces very large clusters of remarkably small fruits. 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

The plant is used as a rootstock. 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.

DEADLY

Canadian Moonseed

Menispermum canadense

Cbaile19

Safe

Spanish grape

Vitis berlandieri

(c) Alison Northup, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alison Northup

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

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

Synonyms

Also Known As

Uva silvestre, Vid silvestre

References (9)

• 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)
• Compt. Rend. Hebd. Seances Acad. Sci. 91:425. 1880
• Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 245
• Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 681
• Kermath, B. M., et al, 2014, Food Plants in the Americas: A survey of the domesticated, cultivated and wild plants used for Human food in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. On line draft. p 919

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