Synonyms
The following names are used for this species in botanical literature: Vitis lanata Roxburgh, Vitis cordifolia Roth., Vitis hyeneana Riem. et Schult., Vitis succisa Seem., Vitis lanata var. rugosa Wight et Arnott, Vitis lanata var. glabra Wight et Arnott.
Distribution and Ecology
According to the grapevine researcher J. E. Planchon, Vitis lanata grows in the temperate and hot regions of British India and China. This species has been recorded on the Coromandel Coast, in Eastern Bengal (in the tropical zone at an altitude of about 1200 meters above sea level), in Lower Bengal, Nepal, Annam, and Southern China (Hong Kong).
J. E. Planchon notes that Vitis lanata is the only true grapevine that descends into the hot plains of British India. In these latitudes, this species morphologically resembles the tropical grapevine of the Antilles — Vitis caribaea. However, the study of numerous herbarium specimens from the Museum collection shows that, despite a strong resemblance (especially in the dense pubescence of various organs), these two species cannot be merged or confused.
Botanical Description
- Bush: The bush is vigorous, with a large vegetative mass. In natural conditions, it forms powerful lianas in forests and predominantly along the banks of water bodies.
- Shoots: The shoots are long, straight, strong, cylindrical, and highly branched. In the herbaceous state, the shoots are completely covered with a dense, light reddish-brown down. On matured annual shoots, the pubescence persists but becomes less dense; the shoots themselves acquire a shiny hazel-brown color. The internodes are rather long, with fine longitudinal furrows. Nodes are distinctly pronounced on large shoots, which have a slightly sinuous shape. Tendrils are intermittent, strong, forked, and covered with thick, dense, reddish felt-like pubescence. Flower clusters have a tendril on the peduncle, are compact in structure, with long basal branches covered with flakes of reddish hairs.
- Leaves: The leaves are medium or below medium size, asymmetrical, entire, and heart-shaped. The leaf blade has triangular outlines due to the absence of distinct lobes, while the edges of the petiole sinus form an almost straight line. The teeth on the margins of the leaf blade are barely indicated and are determined mainly by the sharp tips projecting on the side margins of the leaf. The veins are strong. The leaf blade is thick, dark green, matte, and completely hairless on the upper side. The underside of the leaf is evenly covered with thick, dense felt-like pubescence of an intense reddish-brown color. The petiole is short, strong, and covered with similar fibers.
- Fruit and Clusters: The cluster is medium, sometimes above medium, of short length, loose, rarely conical, and characterized by the presence of wings. The peduncle of the cluster is short and thick. Pedicels are long, thin, and end in a large prominent ring. The berries are medium or below medium size (smaller than the berries of the species Vitis caribaea), round (spherical) in shape, and firm. The skin is thick. The pulp is relatively abundant and colored an intense dark purple-red.
- Seeds: The seeds are medium, rounded, with a large, short, and sharply defined beak. The color of the seeds is matte, chestnut-black. The chalaza is weakly expressed, rounded, and located in a relatively deep depression that continues as a groove towards the beak and the apex; the seed seam is absent. On the ventral side of the seed, two pits are clearly visible towards the beak, located symmetrically relative to a rather prominent kee (Fig. 727–728)l.
