Distribution and Leaf Morphology of Wild Grapes Native to Japan.

Abstract

Studies on the identification and classification of species and varieties of wild grapes native to Japan by their leaf morphology were initiated. Samples were collected from all over Japan and compared with specimens kept in the herbaria of six Japanese universities. Their relationship were also compared with the several wild grape taxa native to Korea, Taiwan and China. Scions of wild grapes collected in their native habitats were rooted and planted in the Horticultural Experiment Field, University of Osaka Prefecture at Sakai City for morphological and ecological studies. The results obtained are as follows: 1. In Japan, 6 species and 9 varieties of wild grapes were identified. The main ones are; Vitis coignetiae Pulliat which are found growing in Hokkaido, Tohoku, and the alpine regions of Chugoku, Kinki and Shikoku; V. flexuosa Thunb., native to Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu and Amami Islands; and V. ficifolia Bunge var. lobata Nakai syn. V. thunbergii Sieb. et Zucc. which is endemic to the low altitude areas all over Japan except for the northern part of Hokkaido and Okinawa. Two new species, tentatively named, Shiohitashibudo and Daisankakuzuru were discovered at Shiohitashi in Kagoshima Prefecture and at Koshu City in Korea, respectively. 2. V. amurensis Rupr. which is distributed in Korea and the northern part of China, was not found in Hokkaido or in the six university herbaria. 3. Leaf shape of wild grapes were coded using the Galet's Ruler by measuring the length and angles of the veins, the ratio of length to width and the depth of the lateral sinuses. The code numbers arranged on the basis of the formula ABC-r-S1S2 revealed that intermediate values existed between related species. Hence, the taxonomic key may be able to use for the identification and classification of wild grapes.