Wild Grape

Vitis spp.

Illustration: Wild grape (Vitis spp.) vine with forked tendrils

Identification: High-climbing vine with forked tendrils, shreddy bark, and toothed heart-shaped leaves. Blue-black (or bronze) fruit clusters in fall. Seeds inside are several, round/oval.

Dangerous look-alikes: MOONSEED (Menispermum canadense) — DEADLY. Moonseed has NO tendrils and each fruit holds ONE crescent-moon-shaped seed. Wild grape always has forked tendrils and multiple round seeds. See the High-Risk Index plate.

Edible parts: Ripe fruit; young leaves and tendrils (for dolmas).

Season and habitat: Fruit in fall; leaves in spring. Woodland edges, thickets, riverbanks.

Preparation: Tart fresh — best as jelly, juice, or wine. Leaves blanched for stuffed grape leaves.

Notes: Taste before gathering much — some vines are mouth-puckeringly sour, others sweet.