Vitis

Vitis is a genus of about 60 species of vining plants in the flowering plant family Vitaceae. The genus is made up of species predominantly from the Northern hemisphere. It is economically important as the source of grapes, both for direct consumption of the fruit and for fermentation to produce wine. The study and cultivation of grapevines is called viticulture.

Vitis is distinguished from other genera of Vitaceae by having petals which remain joined at the tip and detach from the base to fall together as a calyptra or 'cap'. The flowers are unisexual or modified to act functionally as unisexual, they are pentamerous with a hypogynous disk. The calyx is greatly reduced or nonexistent in most species and the petals are joined at the summit into one unit but separated at the base. Flower buds are formed later in the growing season and overwinter for blooming in spring of the next year. There are two types of flowers produced, sterile flowers with five long filaments and erect stamens with undeveloped pistils and fertile flowers with well developed pistals and that have five undeveloped reflexed stamens. The fruit is a berry, normally produced with four or less per flower by way of aborted embryos, ovoid in shape and juicy.


Uses
The fruit of several Vitis species are grown commercially for consumption as fresh grapes and for fermentation into wine. Vitis vinifera is the most important species.
The leaves of the grape vine itself are considered edible and are used in the production of dolmades.


Some Species
Vitis vinifera (Common Grape Vine) is a species of Vitis, native to the Mediterranean region, central Europe, and southwestern Asia, from Morocco and Spain north to southern Germany and east to northern Iran. It is a liana growing to 35 m tall, with flaky bark. The leaves are alternate, palmately lobed, 5–20 cm long and broad. The fruit is a berry, known as a grape; in the wild species it is 6 mm diameter and ripens dark purple to blackish with a pale wax bloom; in cultivated plants it is usually much larger, up to 3 cm long, and can be green, red, or purple. The species typically occurs in humid forests and streamsides. Use of grapes is known to date back to Neolithic times, following the discovery of 7,000 year-old wine storage jars in present-day northern Iran in 1996.

Vitis aestivalis (Summer Grape) is a species of grape native to eastern North America from southern Ontario east to Vermont, west to Oklahoma, and south to Florida and Texas. It is a vigorous vine, growing to 10 m or more high in trees. The leaves are 7–20 cm long, suborbicular, and usually a little broader than long; they are variable in shape, from unlobed to deeply three- or five-lobed, green above, and densely hairy below. The flowers are produced in a dense panicle 5–15 cm long. The fruit is a small grape 5–14 mm diameter, dark purple or black in color.

Vitis amurensis - The amur grape (Vitis amurensis), is a species of grape native to the Asian continent. Its name comes from the Amur Valley in Russia and China. It's very resistant to frost, but is not tolerant to drought. By hybridization with the European wine grape (Vitis vinifera), several cultivars resistant to low temperatures are produced, such as "Zarja severa" (Northern dawn) and Rondo.

Vitis berlandieri is a species of grape native to the southern North America, primarily Texas, New Mexico and Arkansas.

Vitis californica (California wild grape) is a wild grape species native to most of California and southwestern Oregon. It is a deciduous vine which can grow to over 10 m (30 feet) in length. It climbs on other plants or covers the ground with twisted, woody ropes of vine covered in green leaves. In the fall the leaves turn many shades of orange and yellow, and bunches of small and often sour but edible purple grapes hang from the vines. It is a common sight along the banks of the Sacramento River. The California wild grape grows along streams and rivers and thrives in damp areas; however, like most other native California plants it can withstand periods of dry conditions. The grapes provide an important food source for a variety of wild animals, especially birds, and the foliage provides thick cover. The wild grape is strong and robust, and viticulturists worldwide often use it as rootstock for their wine grapes. The interesting shape and color of the leaves and the lush, trainable vines make this species an attractive garden plant. In some areas where the plant is not native it has the capacity to become a noxious weed.

Vitis cinerea is a variety of grape. It has small black berries that are mildly unpleasant to eat. It grows in Texas. It is also know by the name "Winter Grape".

Vitis girdiana - The wild grape species Vitis girdiana is known as the desert wild grape and Southern California wild grape. It is quite similar to the California wild grape, Vitis californica. They are currently treated as two different species but may be subspecies of one. It is a climbing grapevine growing at low elevation in Southern California, including some of the Channel Islands. It is a member of the chaparral plant community and can be found in riparian woodlands. It is tolerant of a wide variety of soils and does well in drought conditions. It bears bunches of small, sweet, edible purple to black grapes up to 8 millimeters in diameter which are browsed by wildlife. It is also grown as an ornamental plant for its attractive hanging foliage and tendrils. The Cahuilla of southern California made wine and raisins from the grapes.

Vitis labrusca (Fox grape) is a species of grape native to the eastern United States.

Vitis lincecumii is a type of grape. It is often referred to by the nicknames: Big Summer Grape, Pine Wood Grape, Post Oak Grape, Sand Grape, South Western Aestivalis, Turkey Grape, and Vine Wood Grape.

Vitis mustangensis, also known as the Mustang Grape, can be found predominantly in central to east Texas. It grows fruit in small clusters of hard green berries, that when ripe become soft 3/4 inch dark purple berries in August-September. The fruit can be potentially irritating to the skin when picked or eaten, and are mildly unpleasant to eat because of its bitterness and high acidity content. They have a thick outer layer of flesh and on average contain four seeds. This variety of grape is recognized by the white velvet-like underside of the leaves, and often covers small trees, shrubs, fences and other objects that it grows near.

Vitis riparia Michx, also commonly known as River Bank Grape or Frost Grape, is a native American climbing or trailing vine, widely distributed from Quebec to Texas, and Montana to New England. It is long-lived and capable of reaching into the upper canopy of the tallest trees. It produces dark fruit that are appealing to both birds and people, and has been used extensively in commercial viticulture as grafted rootstock and in hybrid grape breeding programs.

Vitis rotundifolia - Muscadines (Vitis rotundifolia) are a grapevine species native to the present-day southeastern United States that has been extensively cultivated since the 16th Century. Its recognized range in the United States extends from New York south to Florida, and west to Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas. They are well adapted to their native warm and humid climate; they need fewer chilling hours than better known varieties and they thrive on summer heat.
The muscadine berries range from bronze to dark purple to black in color when ripe. They have skin sufficiently tough that eating the raw fruit often involves biting a small hole in the skin to suck out the pulp inside. Muscadines are not only eaten fresh, but also are used in making wine, juice, and jelly.

Teucrium

Teucrium is a genus of perennial plants, of the family Lamiaceae. Common names for this genus include germanders. These species are herbs, shrubs or subshrubs. They are most common in Mediterranean climates.

A unique feature of... more >>>

Malcolmia

Malcolmia is a genus from the family Brassicaceae. Species from this genus are native to Europe and Africa.

Several species are cultivated for their flowers, these include Virginian stock (Malcolmia maritima).

more >>>

Zauschneria

Zauschneria (Epilobium canum) is a species of willowherb, native to dry slopes and in chaparral of western North America. It is a perennial plant, notable for the profusion of bright scarlet flowers in late summer and autumn.
more >>>

Gevuina avellana

Gevuina avellana is an evergreen tree of the family Proteaceae, up to 20 meters (65 feet) tall. It is native to southern Chile and Argentina. It is found from sea level to 700 meters (2300 feet) above sea level. Its distribution extends from... more >>>

Welwitschia

Welwitschia is a monotypic genus of gymnosperm plant, comprised solely of the very distinct Welwitschia mirabilis. It is the only genus of the family Welwitschiaceae, in the order Welwitschiales, in the division Gnetophyta. The plant is... more >>>