Vitis californica Benth.

A deciduous climber, reaching 20 to 30 ft in height, the young shoots covered at first with grey cobwebby down, nearly glabrous later. Leaves roundish cordate or kidney-shaped, occasionally three-lobed, 2 to 4 in. wide, and about as long, rounded at the apex, the sinus at the base often wide and rounded, the margins set with fairly even, broadly triangular teeth, scarcely 1⁄8 in. deep, upper surface glabrous, lower one usually grey with down; stalk 1 to 2 in. long, grey downy like the young shoot. Berries 1⁄3 in. in diameter, black, covered with purple bloom.

Native of western N. America from Oregon to California. This is a very well-marked vine in the round-ended, shallowly and evenly toothed leaves. It has no value, even in its own home, as a fruit-bearer, but is certainly very handsome in autumn, its leaves turning a deep crimson before they fall.