Usually lianas with leaf-opposed tendrils (modified inflorescens) that attach themselves by twining or by adhesive discs.
Distribution
Widely distributet, but most diverse in tropical and subtropical regions.
Floral characters
Bisexual or unisexual (plants than polygamodioecious or monoecious), radial. Sepals 4-5,+/- connate, small, often represented only by an obscurely toothed or lobed rim. Petals 4-5, distinct or distally falsely connate (due to interlocked parpillae, as in Vitis ) and at flowering deciduous as a cap, valvate.Stamens 4-5, opposite the petals.Pollen grains tricolporate.Carpels 2, connate;overy superior with axile placentation;stigma usually capitate; Ovules 2 per locule.
Leaf characters
Leaves alternate, simple to palmetely or pinnately compound, palmetely to pinnately veined
Stipules
present
Fruit characters
Fruits are berries
Glands
absent
Hairs
present, various
Latex
absent
Odor
present in flowers of Vitis vinifera
Uses
Several species of Vitis (grapes) are of great commercial importance as sources of grapes, juice, wine and raisins. A few species of Parthenocissus are used ornamentally
Distribution maps
(online von http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/research/APweb/ . Dort zitiert wie unter jedem Diagramm vermerkt):
Leeoideae (Vitaceae)
map: from Ridsdale 1976
Viticoideae (Vitaceae)
map: from Wickens 1971; Morley and Toelken 1983; Lombardi 2000; FloraBase 2006, still a lot to do
