Vitis munsoniana

J. Simpson ex Munson

Bird grape, Munson's Grape, Bullace grape

Vitaceae Edible: Fruit, Leaves, Sap 171 iNaturalist observations

Has a deadly poisonous lookalike — see comparison below

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

Summary

A deciduous climbing vine, hermaphroditic and insect-pollinated. Flowers June to July with seeds ripening September to October. Suitable for light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils with good drainage. Adapts to mildly acid through basic pH. Grows in semi-shaded woodlands or full sun, tolerating both dry and moist conditions.

Description

A vine. The fruit are almost round and are thin skinned. They are black and acid in flavour.

This description is brief — help expand it

Edible Uses

The fruit, borne in bunches for easy harvesting, can be eaten raw when fully ripe or dried for later use. It is thin-skinned with an acidic flavour. Young leaves can be cooked as greens or used to wrap other foods before baking, lending them a pleasant flavour. Young tendrils are edible raw or cooked. The sap can be used as a drink and is best collected in spring or early summer, though it should not be harvested in large quantities as this will weaken the plant.

Traditional Uses

The fully ripe fruit are eaten raw. The young leaves and stems are eaten raw. The old stems yield sap for drinking.

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. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus.

Propagation

Seed is best sown in a cold frame as soon as it ripens. Six weeks of cold stratification improves germination rates, so stored seed should be sown in a cold frame as soon as it is obtained. Germination usually occurs in the first spring but may take another 12 months. Prick seedlings into individual pots when large enough to handle, overwinter in a cold frame, and plant out in early summer. Hardwood cuttings of the current season's growth can be taken in December or January and rooted in a frame. These may be 15–30cm long, or short single-bud sections about 5cm long. For the shorter sections, remove a thin strip of bark roughly 3cm long from the lower side to encourage callusing and rooting; these smaller cuttings need more protection than longer ones. Layering is also an option.

Other Uses

A yellow dye is obtained from 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

Bird grape

Vitis munsoniana

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

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

Synonyms

V. rotundifolia var. munsoniana

Also Known As

Uva cimarrona

References (6)

Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 246
Moerman, D. F., 2010, Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press. p 599
Morton,
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
Proc. Soc. Promot. Agric. Sci. 8:59. 1887 (Planchon in A. L. P. P. & A. C. de Candolle, Monogr. phan. 5:615. 1887)

Show all 6 references