Vitis rotundifolia var. munsoniana

Plants high climbing to sometimes shrubby or trailing. Leaf-blade 3–8 cm diam. Berries 12–30 per infructescence, 8–12 mm diam. Seeds to 6 mm.

Phenology: Flowering and fruiting year-round in peninsular Florida, late Apr–May farther north; fruiting late Jul–Sep.
Habitat: Floodplain forests, riverbanks, hammocks, pinelands, sand pine scrub.
Elevation: 0–200 m.

Ala., Fla., Ga.

Discussion

Variety munsoniana is distinguished from the more widespread var. rotundifolia by its smaller and more numerous berries, and these traits remain consistent under greenhouse conditions. It may well represent a species distinct from Vitis rotundifolia.

Variety pygmaea was described based on collections from Polk and Highlands counties, Florida, with shrubby or trailing habit, small leaves, and narrow and ridged seed raphe. Field studies by J. Wen suggest that these characteristics intergrade with those of var. munsoniana and that it is an extreme xeric ecotype of var. munsoniana, which occurs in the same areas.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa