Common names:
Canyon grape, Arizona grape
Family:
Scientific name:
Vitis arizonica
Main flower color:
Range:
From east Nevada to west Texas
Height:
Low; a creeping vine, with stems up to 15 feet long
Habitat:
Canyons, streambanks, riversides, up to 9,500 feet
Leaves:
Bright green, ovate to broadly cordate, stalked, up to 5 inches long, lined by large teeth
Season:
April to June
Like most members of the genus, vitis arizonica is a creeper, growing on top of other plants, attaching its branches via tendrils (positioned opposite to the leaves), which soon wither if not in use. The bright green leaves are hairless above, (usually) sparsely to densely covered with cobwebby hairs below, and shallowly divided into three lobes, all lined with sharp teeth. Leaves are attached by stalks about half (or more) of the length of the blade.
The inconspicuous flowers are arranged in a vertical spike, up to 5 inches long. The calyx is green, scarcely lobed, while the five petals are white, very small, alternating with five white stamens. Fruits are edible black berries, half an inch in diameter. This species occurs in shady places close to water.
The inconspicuous flowers are arranged in a vertical spike, up to 5 inches long. The calyx is green, scarcely lobed, while the five petals are white, very small, alternating with five white stamens. Fruits are edible black berries, half an inch in diameter. This species occurs in shady places close to water.
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