Vitis parvifolia

Roxb.

Pureni, Gongap

Vitaceae Edible: Fruit, Leaves 110 iNaturalist observations

Has a deadly poisonous lookalike — see comparison below

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc-sa

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

iNaturalist· cc0

no rights reserved

Summary

Source: Wikipedia

A deciduous climbing vine reaching 8 m, hardy to UK zone 6. Flowers June to July with seeds ripening September to October. Hermaphroditic and insect-pollinated. Adapts to light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils with good drainage; tolerates mildly acid to mildly alkaline pH. Grows in semi-shade or full sun in dry or moist soil.

Description

A slender woody climber. The leaves have stalks. The leaves are 2.5-9 cm long by 1.5-6 cm wide. They are triangular and oval. They taper towards a tip. There are teeth at the end. The leaves sometimes have lobes. The flowers are yellow. They occur in slender flat topped flower arrangements. The fruit is round and black when ripe. It is 5-7 mm across and has 2-4 seeds.

Edible Uses

The fruit, around 7mm in diameter and carried in bunches, can be eaten raw or dried for winter use. Young leaves of some forms are used to wrap around other foods before baking, lending a pleasant flavour to the dish — while it is unlikely any form has poisonous leaves, palatability varies between them. Young tendrils can be eaten raw or cooked. The sap has a sweet taste and can be made into a drink.

Traditional Uses

The ripe fruit are eaten fresh. They are sweet.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

The fruit is considered restorative, strengthening and tonic. The sap is traditionally used to restore youth and black hair. The root is said to have a warming effect on the sinews.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. In Nepal plants grow between 1200-2100 m altitude. They occur in moist, open places.

Where It Grows

Asia, China, Himalayas, India, Nepal,

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. A very ornamental plant, it climbs 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 may take another 12 months. Prick out seedlings into individual pots once large enough to handle, 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 single-bud sections around 5cm long. For the shorter sections, remove a thin strip of bark about 3cm long from the lower half of one side to encourage callusing and root formation — these smaller cuttings need a more sheltered environment than the longer ones. Layering is also an option.

Other Uses

A yellow dye can be 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

Pureni

Vitis parvifolia

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

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

Synonyms

Vitis parvifolia. Vitis purani. Vitis wallichii. Vitis cavaleriei

Also Known As

Barain, Jangli angur

References (8)

Agarwal, R. & Chandra, V., 2019, Diversity of wild edible plants in the Mandal-Chopta forest, Uttarakhand. Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies 2019; 7(1): 89-92 (As parviflora)
Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 684
Dobriyal, M. J. R. & Dobriyal, R., 2014, Non Wood Forest Produce an Option for Ethnic Food and Nutritional Security in India. Int. J. of Usuf. Mngt. 15(1):17-37 (As parviflora)
Dutt, B., et al, 2011, Ethnobotanical Survey of Plants used by Gaddi Tribe of Bharmour Area in Himachal Pradesh. ENVIS Bulletin: Himalayan Ecology 19, 2011 (As parviflora)
Fl. ind. 2:475. 1824 Mar-June

Show all 8 references

Manandhar, N.P., 2002, Plants and People of Nepal. Timber Press. Portland, Oregon. p 478
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
Wild edible plants of Himachal Pradesh