Vitis caribaea

DC.

Caribean grape

Vitaceae Edible: Fruit 770 iNaturalist observations

Has a deadly poisonous lookalike — see comparison below

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Description

A tropical vine in the Vitaceae family native to the Caribbean region, bearing edible fruit.

This description is brief — help expand it

Edible Uses

Vitis tiliifolia is grown as a forest crop in Mayan agriculture, and is used for food or drink, or as an ingredient in medicines. The vine is most commonly dioecious, with separate male and female vines, though wild hermafrodite vines have been found. Flowering is usually at the beginning of the dry season (December in the northern hemisphere) and fruit production can be up to 20 kg per vine in cultivation. The fruits are small and acid with low sugar near 8 Brix but are sometimes made into wine resembling that of the Norton grape of the east and central USA. In cultivation the vines are vigorous similar to the Muscadine grape and should be given ample trellis room of near 6 meters or 20 feet. V. tiliifolia can and should be pruned and can be propagated from cuttings just like other grapes.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant.

Where It Grows

Britain, Central America, Cuba, Europe, Jamaica, Mexico, North America, USA, West Indies,

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

Caribean grape

Vitis caribaea

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

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

References (4)

Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 682
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
Miguel, E., et al, 1989, A checklist of the cultivated plants of Cuba. Kulturpflanze 37. 1989, 211-357
Prodr. 1:634. 1824