Owing to the fact that Cordifolia and Riparia have been badly confused in the past, the limits of the habitat of this species are difficult to determine. Pursh gives the northern limit as Canada, and Buckley speaks of its being found at Lake Winnipeg, but all other, and some probably better informed, authorities give the northern limit as New York or the Great Lakes. The eastern limit is the Atlantic Ocean and the southern limit the Gulf of Mexico. It extends westward, according to Engelmann, to the western limits of the wooded portion of the Mississippi Valley in the North, and, according to Munson, to the Brazos River, Texas, in the South. It is found along creeks and river banks sometimes mixed with Riparia, having about the same soil adaptations as that species. It is a very common species in the Middle States and is frequently found growing on limestone soils but, according to Viala, is not indigenous to such soils.
It might be said that this species was first described by Linnaeus in 1753 under the name Vulpina, as his description was from mixed specimens of Cordifolia and Riparia. The first description, however, of which there is no question is that of Michaux in 1803. From this time on there are many descriptions under various names and much disagreement as to the limits of the species and its relation to Riparia. Engelmann in 1872 states that Riparia is generally a smaller plant than Cordifolia and that the fruit ripens earlier and is pleasanter tasting. It was still considered by many botanists that these differences were too slight to separate the forms as different species, but in 1883, Engelmann further enumerated other differences which are given under the description of Vitis riparia. Since this time, the specific difference of the two forms has never been questioned.
Cordifolia makes a good stock for grafting, being vigorous and forming a good union with most of our cultivated grapes. It is seldom used for this purpose, however, on account of the difficulty of propagating it by means of cuttings. For the same reason vines of it are seldom found in cultivation. It is probably of no importance horticulturally.
VITIS CORDIFOLIA FŒTIDA Engelm.
1. Engelmann, Am. Nat., 2:321. 1868. V. cordifolia, var. FŒTIDA. 2. Ib., Mo. Ent. Rpt., 1872:60. 3. Bailey, Gray’s Syn. Fl., 1:424. 1897. V. cordifolia, var. FŒTIDA.
Apparently the first record of Vitis cordifolia foetida is Engelmann’s mention of it in the American Naturalist of 1868. In 1872 he speaks as though this is the common Mississippi Valley form, for he says: “In this valley at least the fruit has a strongly and even fetidly-aromatic taste”. The variety apparently is similar to the typical Cordifolia in every respect excepting the aromatic fruit.
VITIS CORDIFOLIA SEMPERVIRENS Munson.
1. Munson, Rev. Vit., 5:165. f. 53. (cited by 2). 2. Bailey, Gray’s Syn. Fl., 1:424. 1897. V. cordifolia, var. SEMPERVIRENS. 3. Viala and Ravaz, Am. Vines, 1903:78. fig. of leaf.
Vitis cordifolia sempervirens is a south-Florida form of Cordifolia named and first described by Munson in the Revue Viticole. It differs from typical Cordifolia in having leaves which are thicker, narrower, more oblong, with a long lanceolate point, completely glabrous and more or less glossy on both surfaces. These leaves remain on the vines very late in the season. This variety is said to be very resistant to an excess of lime in the soil.