bio.wikisort.org - Plant

Vitis mustangensis, commonly known as the mustang grape, is a species of grape that is native to the southern United States. Its range includes parts of Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, and Oklahoma.[1][2]

Mustang grape
Conservation status
Apparently Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Vitales
Family:	Vitaceae
Genus:	Vitis
Species:	V. mustangensis
Binomial name
Vitis mustangensis Buckley
Synonyms[1]
Vitis candicans Engelm. ex Durand

Description

This woody species produces small clusters of hard green fruit that ripen into soft 3⁄4-inch (2 cm) dark purple berries between July –September.

They have a thick outer layer of flesh and on average contain four heart-shaped seeds. This variety of grape is recognized by the leaves that have a white velvet-like underside and lobed, cordate shape. These vines often cover trees, shrubs, fences and other objects that it grows near.[3]

V. mustangensis is dioecious, with only female vines bearing fruit.[4]

Culinary use

The fruit can be potentially irritating to the skin when handled, and are mildly unpleasant to eat raw because of bitterness and a high acidity content.

This grape has a list of culinary use as jelly, pie-filling, wine and grape juice, all of which are typically processed with heat and sweetened with sugar. [4]

Mustang grapes have been used to make mustang wine since before the Civil War.[5]

The fruit and leaves of Mustang Grapes may also be used to dye wool.[6]

References

External links

• Media related to Vitis mustangensis at Wikimedia Commons
• Data related to Vitis mustangensis at Wikispecies
• Agie-horticulture.edu, Texas Native Shrubs — Vitis mustangensis (Mustang Grape)
• Natives of Texas.com: Mustang Grape (Vitis mustangensis)
• UTexas.edu: Image archive of Vitis mustangensis (Mustang Grape)
• Flora of North America: Vitis mustangensis
• Plants of the World Online: Vitis mustangensis

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