''Vitis mustangensis'', commonly known as the mustang grape, is a species of

grape A grape is a fruit, botanically a berry, of the deciduous woody vines of the flowering plant genus ''Vitis''. Grapes are a non- climacteric type of fruit, generally occurring in clusters. The cultivation of grapes began perhaps 8,000 years ago, ...

that is native to the

southern United States The Southern United States (sometimes Dixie, also referred to as the Southern States, the American South, the Southland, or simply the South) is a geographic and cultural region of the United States of America. It is between the Atlantic Ocean ...

. Its range includes parts of

Mississippi Mississippi () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States, bordered to the north by Tennessee; to the east by Alabama; to the south by the Gulf of Mexico; to the southwest by Louisiana; and to the northwest by Arkansas. Miss ...

Alabama (We dare defend our rights) , anthem = "Alabama (state song), Alabama" , image_map = Alabama in United States.svg , seat = Montgomery, Alabama, Montgomery , LargestCity = Huntsville, Alabama, Huntsville , LargestCounty = Baldwin County, Al ...

Louisiana Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It is the 20th-smallest by area and the 25th most populous of the 50 U.S. states. Louisiana is borde ...

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...

, and

Oklahoma Oklahoma (; Choctaw language, Choctaw: ; chr, ᎣᎧᎳᎰᎹ, ''Okalahoma'' ) is a U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the nor ...

Description

This woody species produces small clusters of hard green fruit that ripen into soft 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. V''. mustangensis'' is dioecious, with only female vines bearing fruit.

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. Mustang grapes have been used to make mustang wine since before the Civil War. The fruit and leaves of Mustang Grapes may also be used to dye wool.Tull, Delena. ''Edible and Useful Plants of Texas and the Southwest: A Practical Guide''. University of Texas Press, 1987, p. 206-208.

References

External links

* *
Agie-horticulture.edu, Texas Native Shrubs — ''Vitis mustangensis'' (Mustang Grape)

* ttp://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=250101304 Flora of North America: ''Vitis mustangensis''br>Plants of the World Online: ''Vitis mustangensis''
mustangensis Endemic flora of the United States Flora of Alabama Flora of Louisiana Flora of Mississippi Flora of Oklahoma Flora of Texas Plants described in 1862 Flora of Northeastern Mexico Dioecious plants {{Vitaceae-stub