Vitis vulpina L.

  • Family: Vitaceae (grape)
  • Common names: winter grape, fox grape
  • Synonyms: V. cordifolia, V. illex

    High-climbing woody vine often with a thick trunk. Tendrils usually reddish, few. Leaves cordate-acuminate, with a deep basal sinus, coarsely and irregularly sharp-toothed, unlobed or with angled shoulders, to 18 cm (7 in) long and 15 cm (6 in) wide, bright green and glabrous above, paler and with tufts of hairs in vein-axils below. Inflorescence an open compound panicle to 15 cm (6 in) long, flowering in late Spring. Fruits black, glaucous, 5-10 mm (0.2-0.4 in) in diameter, ripening in Fall.

    Distribution: Native to much of the eastern half of the U. S.
    Habitat: Streamsides and floodplain forests, fencerows, ravines.
    NWI status: FAC
    Comment: Vitis is the old Latin name for grape; vulpina refers to the fox, which is supposed to be attracted to the fruit of this species.

    Distribution in Oklahoma:

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    Last update: 9/22/99
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