Fox Grape

Description

Fox Grape (Vitis labrusca/Vitaceae). The genus Vitis is composed of about 65 species of woody vines (lianas) native to the Northern hemisphere. This is not a commercial lumber species and thus, no technical information is available on the properties of the wood. Fox Grape flowers from May to June, producing fruits by September. It is common throughout the state of Maryland. It is the source of several cultivated varieties, including Concord.

Characteristics

Characteristics found in the Grape (Vitis sp.)

Ring porous to semi-ring porous
Tangential arrangement of large and small pores
Spirals in vessels
Simple to scalariform perforations (6-10)
I/V pits linear
R/V pits large
Wide, heterocellular rays (9-14)
Crystals

Cluster of fox grape leaves and fruit on the vine.

Slides (Click on each image to view a larger image)

WOOD SLIDES

Microscope slide of radial section of grape vine. Arrows point to vessels and rays.

Microscope slide of radial section of grape vine under greater magnification. Arrows point ray-vessel pits.

Microscope slide of radial section of grape vine. Arrows point to rays and ray-vessel pits within the ray.

Microscope slide of tangential section of grape vine. Arrows point to the ray, diagnostic linear type inter-vessel pits, and simple perforation type vessel end walls.

Microscope slide of tangential section of grape vine. Arrows identify vessel and rays.

Microscope slide of tangential section of grape vine. Arrows identify rays and small vessels with linear type inter-vessel pits.

CHARCOAL SLIDES

Microscope slide of transverse section of grape vine charcoal. Arrows identify vessels, rays, and tyloses.

Microscope slide of transverse section of grape vine charcoal. Arrows identify location of vessels and rays.

Microscope slide of radial section of grape vine charcoal. Arrows identify vessels, tyloses, and ray.

Microscope slide of tangential section of grape vine charcoal. Arrows point to location of rays and vessels.