Vitis vinifera 0

Author: Carl von Linné (1707-1778)
Family: Vitaceae Subfamily: Vitoideae
Genus: Vitis
Synonym(s): Vitis gmelinii,Vitis vinifera ssp sylvestris
English name: Common grape vine
Zone: Mediterranean

Description
This species occurs on groves and banks, alder groves, ash groves, brambles and reeds, oleanders, Pyrenean oak woods, cork oaks, gall oaks, holm oak or strawberry trees and walls, next to railway tracks, shady places and cool ravines, coastal cliffs, crops, on plain soils, edaphic indifferent, 20-1000m. It is from southwestern Asia, Central and Southern Europe and Mediterranean Region.

Vitis vinifera Observed in Portugal by Vítor Jorge (license)

Botanical Description

This is a climber up to 20m, sometimes even longer, with a trunk up to 40cm in diameter, in natural habitats, sinuous, whose bark peels off longitudinally. The young stems are with numerous tendrils, ending in 2 or 3 coiling tendrils, opposite the leaves, sometimes strongly lignified.

The leaves are with a blade of 5-13.5 x 5.5-15.5cm, orbicular in outline, toothed, generally with pointed teeth and often ending in a petiole, almost entire to palmate, with 1-4 rounded indentations that give rise to up to 5 lobes, with a broadly rounded basal sinus and the 2 basal lobes frequently superimposed, flat or wavy, with a glabrous upper surface, sometimes hairy, and a glabrous or hairy lower surface, with frequently arachnoid hairs, with a petiole of 1.5-10cm.

The inflorescence is in a pedunculated panicle, compact, opposite the leaves. Tiny flowers, hermaphrodite in monoecious plants and unisexual in dioecious plants, pentamerous, with 2-6mm pedicels. The corolla is 1.5-3mm, deciduous, detached from the base like a cap, without the apex of the petals separating. The stamens are 1.5-3mm, always longer and erect in male flowers. The anthers are 0.7-1mm, yellowish cream, brown in the center.

The fruits are 5-15mm, ovoid, in a dense or loose arrangement, of very variable size, color and flavor, with an exocarp of a greenish-whitish, yellowish, reddish, bluish or purple dark color, with pulp light or dark. The seeds are 5-6 x 3-4mm, up to 2 per carpel, ovoid, apiculate.

Edible plant

It is edible thanks to its leaves and its fruit, the grape. With its tangy taste, the very young leaves are eaten raw or cooked sparingly. The young leaves are usually eaten cooked, pan-fried, steamed or even stuffed with rice-based mixes. White or red grapes are eaten fresh as they are, but also in quiches or in sautéed meats and can accompany fresh or dried meats such as lamb in tajines. They are used to make desserts whether fresh in puddings, clafoutis, crumbles and fruit salads or dried in breads, cookies and cakes. There is also grape juice which is nutritious and very sweet, sparkling grapes and grape syrup which is the result of the concentration of the juice. In addition, by reducing the juice, we obtain a jelly called ‘raisin’. After fermentation, the grape gives the wine whether it is white, red or rosé for the most famous. The wine itself generates various alcohols through its distillation, whether aperitifs or spirits, and through its flavoring of liqueurs. And it can also turn into vinegar by acetic fermentation. And finally, an edible oil can be extracted from grape seeds.

References
- Encyclopédie des plantes alimentaires, Michel Chauvet. 2018. ISBN
- Flora iberica, Santiago Castroviejo. 2010 Vol. 9. ISBN

References for the genus

- Flora iberica, Santiago Castroviejo. 2010 Vol. 9 pag. 58-62. ISBN
- The most important invasive plants in Hungary, Botta-Dukat, Zoltan and Balogh, Lajos and Feher, Alexander. 2008. ResearchGate
- Wild Crop Relatives: Genomic and Breeding Resources : Temperates Fruits. 2011. DOI

General specifications

Indigenous plant
Biological type: climber
Frost resistance: 5ºF
Leaf color: dark green
Flower color: white
Reproduction mode: hermaphrodite plant whoes flowers produce both male and female gametes
IUCN Red List of threatened species status: Least Concern
Indexed Sensitive to the insect Popillia japonica The Regional Directorate for Food, Agriculture and Forestry.
Indexed Susceptible to the bacteria Xylella fastidiosa The Regional Directorate for Food, Agriculture and Forestry.
Indexed Sensitive to the insect Aleurocanthus spiniferus The Regional Directorate for Food, Agriculture and Forestry.

Specifications for the Mediterranean basin
Adult size (h x w): 14,7ft x 13,1ft
Sun exposure: full sun (Sun hours: >6h
Foliage: deciduous
Growth: fast
Flowering time at April

Specific information for our garden
Planting substrate: 30%Compost+30%Coco+40%Sand
Plant watering: 3x a week pH 6.5
Logical sequence of containers for: Trees; forestry plate, forestry pot 3L, container 6L, container 55L, container 110L, container 240L
Propagation is done by cuttings

Germination references
- Seeds: Ecology, Biogeography, and, Evolution of Dormancy and Germination, Baskin, Carol & Baskin, J.M. 2014 pag. 1-1586. DOI

This plant is available from the following nurseries

Experiences in the garden

08-07-20_A Obtaining seeds from seed provider Magic Garden Seed collected in '....'. (Cultivated from unknown origin)

08-06-21 Sown 10 seeds in a seed plate F, they did not geminate.

Protocol: Spring Strat Hum 12wk 2mm Sowing mix+Sand 68-77°F Damp substrate+Light

31-03-22 Sown 13 seeds in a seed plate F, they did not geminate in Serre8.

Protocol: Spring Soak 68°F 12h Strat Hum 12wk 2mm Sowing mix+Sand 59-68°F Damp substrate+Light