Vitis vinifera L.

Vigorous liane; tendrils usually forked, intermittently present at nodes. Young shoots and lvs greyish white with floccose tomentum, sometimes pale brown. Petiole usually < lamina. Lamina of mature lvs to c. 17 × 18 cm (larger in cultivation), broad-ovate, 3- or 5-lobed to varying degrees, glabrous to whitish or pale greyish tomentose below, coarsely serrate; basal sinus usually deep and narrow with lobes tending to overlap but sometimes lobes forming a wide, rounded sinus. Fls fragrant, green, in dense elongated panicles replacing tendrils in the upper shoot axils. Calyx truncate, 0.2–0.5 mm long. Corolla 1.5–2.5 mm long; lobes valvate and lightly cohering towards apex. Filaments < or > corolla. Berry ± globular, (0.5)–0.7–1.5–(2.3) cm diam., black with some glaucous bloom; flesh sweet.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Oct.–Dec.