Vitis aestivalis
| Vitis aestivalis | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 3 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 66' |
| Speed: | Fast |
| Blooms: | Early Summer-Mid Summer |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Vitis aestivalis (common name: summer grape)
Propagation: Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe[K]. Six weeks cold stratification improves the germination rate, and so stored seed is best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is obtained. Germination should take place in the first spring, but sometimes takes another 12 months. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter. Plant out in early summer.
Cuttings of mature wood of the current seasons growth, December/January in a frame. These cuttings can be of wood 15 - 30cm long or they can be of short sections of the stem about 5cm long with just one bud at the top of the section. In this case a thin, narrow strip of the bark about 3cm long is removed from the bottom half of the side of the stem. This will encourage callusing and the formation of roots. Due to the size of these cuttings they need to be kept in a more protected environment than the longer cuttings.
Layering.
Cultivation: Prefers a deep rich moist well-drained moderately fertile loam[1][2]. Grows best in a calcareous soil[2]. Succeeds in sun or partial shade though a warm sunny position is required for the fruit to ripen[2].
Plants climb by means of tendrils[3]. They grow particularly well up elm trees[4].
The flowers are sweetly scented with the aroma of mignonette[5].
Any pruning should be carried out in winter when the plants are dormant otherwise they bleed profusely[3][2].
This species is a parent of some cultivars that are grown for their edible fruits in N. America[1][6].
Resistant to Phylloxera disease, a disease that almost destroyed the European grape crops[6]. 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[7].
Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[2].
Range: Southern and Eastern N. America - Ontario to Alabama. Locally naturalized in Europe[8].
Habitat: Dry woods and thickets[9]. Stream bottom woods, usually on sandy soils, in Texas[10].
Edibility: Fruit - raw, cooked in jellies, jams, pies etc or dried for later use[1][11][12][13][7]. Agreeably flavoured[14][2]. The taste is best after a frost[15].The dried fruits are eaten as snacks or used in baked goods[7]. The fruit is about 8mm in diameter[2] and is produced in fairly large bunches[16].
Leaves - cooked[17][18]. Young leaves are wrapped around other foods and then baked, they impart a pleasant flavour.
A sweet watery sap is obtained from the stem[15][7]. Used as a refreshing drink.
Young tendrils - raw or cooked[17][19][18].
Medicinal: The leaves are hepatic[20]. They have been used in the treatment of the liver[20]. The wilted leaves have been applied as a poultice to the breasts to draw away soreness after the birth of a child[257.
A decoction of the leaves and stems has been taken in the treatment of stomach aches, fevers and headaches[20].
An infusion of the bark has been used to treat urinary complaints[20].
Usage: A yellow dye is obtained from the fresh or dried leaves[21].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Seed Ripens: Early Fall-Mid Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Thomas, Graham. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray, 1992.
- ↑ Philbrick, Helen and Richard Gregg. Companion Plants. Watkins, 1979.
- ↑ Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ Tutin, Tom et al.. Flora Europaea. Cambridge University Press, 1964.
- ↑ Lyndon, Merritt. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co, 1950.
- ↑ Diggs, George and Barney Lipscomb. Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas. Botanical Research Institute, 1999.
- ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ Douglas, James. Alternative Foods.
- ↑ Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Turner, Nancy. Edible Wild Fruits and Nuts of Canada. National Museum of Natural Sciences, 1978.
- ↑ Britton, Nathaniel and Addison Brown. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada. Dover Publications, 1970.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Harris, Ben. Eat the Weeds. Pivot Health, 1973.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 McPherson, Alan and Sue McPherson. Wild Food Plants of Indiana. Indiana University Press, 1977.
- ↑ Harrington, Harold. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press, 1967.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 Moerman, Daniel. Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press, 1998.
- ↑ Grae, Ida. Nature's Colors. MacMillan Publishing, 1974.