Canyon Grape
Vitis arizonica
Illustrated from a specimen found in Sabino Canyon, Sta. Catalina Mts., Pima County, Arizona, USA.
VINE: In deep shady canyons where reliable water flows canyon grape
vines will be found rambling into riparian trees and shrubs. Forked tendrils
help this climber up.
LEAVES: Broadly rounded leaves are shiny when young with distinct teeth. Look for galls on the leaf undersides caused by Phyloxera bugs.
RANGE: Strictly riparian, but fairly common in that setting in canyons
mostly above 800 m elevation.
FRUIT: Small grapes turn blue-black when ripe but remain bitter.
UNARMED.