| Pigeon grape | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Vitales |
| Family: | Vitaceae |
| Genus: | Vitis |
| Species: | V. aestivalis |
| Binomial name | |
| Vitis aestivalis | |
Vitis aestivalis, thesummer grape,[1] orpigeon grape[2] is a species ofgrape native to easternNorth America from southernOntario east toMaine, west toOklahoma, and south toFlorida andTexas.[3][4] It is a vigorousvine, growing to 10 m or more high intrees. Theleaves are 7–20 cm long, suborbicular, and usually a little broader than long; they are variable in shape, from unlobed to deeply three- or five-lobed, green above, and densely hairy below. Theflowers are produced at every 3rd node[2] in a densepanicle 5–15 cm long. Thefruit is a smallgrape 5–14 mm diameter, dark purple or black in colour.[5] It is the official state grape ofMissouri.[6] Summer grape prefers a drier upland habitat.[2]
Severalcultivars have been selected, including 'Norton', a cultivar with a substantialV. aestivalis background, is believed to be the oldest American grape cultivar in commercial production.
Inter specific-hybrids made with the speciesV. aestivalis, such as Norton, have shown several useful traits for commercialwine production when compared with other North American native grape varieties. These traits include: lower acidity, neutral, "vinifera-like" flavour profile, good tannin structure, and excellent disease resistance.
Unlike most other species in genusVitis,V. aestivalis does notpropagate well through dormantcuttings. This has been a limiting factor for its use in commercial viticulture despite the species's promisingoenological characteristics. Propagation ofV. aestivalis specimens must typically be made throughlayering or through green cuttings. The species typically does not tolerate highlycalcareous soils.[7]
It has been claimed that a variety ofV. aestivalis was cultivated by theCherokees and used in some of their sacred rituals.[8]
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