Vitis cinerea

Vitis cinerea, the graybark grape, is a variety of grape. It has small black berries that are mildly unpleasant to eat. Plentiful in Missouri and Louisiana, it is also found throughout the eastern half of the US as far west as Texas, north to Illinois, and south to Florida. It is also known by the name winter grape or possum grape. Vitis cinerea is an American native grape. The leaves are cordiform-emarinate, flabby, dull, limb finely wrinkled (like crepe) between the sub-veins. The teeth of the leaf are very blunt. The buds are grey-ashy-violet. This species occurs in habitat types such as floodplain woodlands, wet thickets, and swampy forests.

Description

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

Edible Uses

The fruit has a rich, pleasant flavour and, while rather small, is borne in very large clusters. It has a slightly bitter edge but is 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 dried for later use. They are made into jams and jellies. The sap of the vine is used as a drink.

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

Sweet winter grape

Vitis cinerea

Viala et Vermorel (via Wikimedia Commons)

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

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

Synonyms

Also Known As

Uva cimarrona, Uva de monte, Uva del sur, Vid silvestre

References (11)

• 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)
• Estrada-Castillon, E., et al, 2014, Ethnobotany in Rayones, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 10:62
• Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 245
• Franco-Mora, O., et al, 2012, Characterisation of Vitis cinerea Engelm. ex Millardet fruits from the southern region of the State of Mexico. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution. Published on line 09 October, 2012
• 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 921

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