High-climbing woody vine. Flowering branches herbaceous, bright red. Tendrils branched. Leaves ovate, mostly glabrous, 10-15 cm (4-6 in) long and about as wide, with 3-5 long-acuminate lobes with rounded sinuses. Inflorescence a dense compound panicle 5-15 cm (2-6 in) long, flowering in late Spring. Fruits black or purple, 5-8 mm (0.2-0.3 in) in diameter, ripening in late Summer.
Distribution: Native to southeastern Canada and much of the eastern half of the U. S.
Habitat: Floodplain forests, streambanks, fencerows.
NWI status: none
Comment:The fruits vary widely in taste and juice content, but are often used to make wild grape jelly. Many species of wildlife eat the fruits. Vitis is the old Latin name for grape; palmata refers to the usually palmate-lobed leaves.
Distribution in Oklahoma: 
BACK
NEXT
RETURN TO INDEX
Last update: 9/22/99
Go to Oklahoma Biological Survey Home Page
Disclaimer