Vitis rupestris

Vitis rupestris is a species of grape native to the United States that is known by many common names including July, Coon, sand, sugar, beach, bush, currant, ingar, rock, and mountain grape. It is used for breeding several French-American hybrids as well as many root stocks.

Description

A deciduous climbing vine reaching 2 m tall. Flowers appear May to June with seeds maturing September to October. Hermaphroditic flowers are pollinated by insects. Grows in light sandy, medium loamy, or heavy clay soils with good drainage. Tolerates mildly acid to basic pH. Can thrive in semi-shade or full sun, adapting to both dry and moist conditions.

Edible Uses

The fruit is very sweet with a pleasant flavour, around 6–12mm in diameter, and borne in reasonably sized bunches. It can be eaten raw or dried for winter use. Young leaves are cooked, traditionally 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.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

None known.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant.

Where It Grows

Central Asia, Europe, Mexico, North America, Tajikistan, 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. Resistant to Phylloxera disease, a disease that almost destroyed the European grape crops. This species can be used as a rootstock in areas where the disease is prevalent and can also be used in breeding programmes with V. vinifera in order to impart resistance to that species. 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

The plant can be used as a rootstock for Vitis vinifera in areas where phylloxera is prevalent. 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

Sand grape

Vitis rupestris

(c) bbuzas, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

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

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

Also Known As

Vid cimarrona, Vid salvaje

References (7)

• Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 246
• Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 686
• John, L., & Stevenson, V., 1979, The Complete Book of Fruit. Angus & Robertson p 142
• 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 922
• Linnaea 21:591. 1848

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