Wild grape

Wild grape Overview

Genus containing around 253 herbaceous perennials, shrubs or trees with upright or climbing growth habits. Some species tend to be more prostrate in their growth form, producing branches that grow along the ground surface. Species in this genus have succulent stems and are usually termed caudiciform. Caudiciform plants are characterised by the production of a thickened stem or trunk structure which is adapted to store water or food. Also known as fat plants or fat-bottomed plants, these adaptations allow plants to survive long periods of time without water or other nutrition. This enables them to grow in hostile environments such as desserts. Foliage is either simple or palmately divided and usually comprised of between 3-9 leaflets which may have toothed margins. Flowers are non-showy, small, 4-petalled, coloured yellow, yellow-green or red. Leading onto showy, grape-like bunches of fleshy bright red berries.