Fox grape facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fox grape |
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| A young Concord grapevine | |
| Scientific classification | |
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Vitis
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| Species: |
labrusca
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The fox grape, known scientifically as Vitis labrusca, is a type of grapevine. These vines grow naturally in eastern North America. They are the source of many popular grape types. Some well-known ones include Catawba, Concord, Delaware, Isabella, and Niagara.
Fox grapes have a special feature called "slip-skin." This means the skin of the grape berries easily slides off when you squeeze them. Another unique thing about these vines is that they have tendrils (small curling parts that help the vine climb) on every part of the stem. Fox grapes also have a distinct "foxy" smell. This smell is not like an animal fox. Instead, it describes the strong, earthy smell that early settlers in the New World noticed.
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History of Fox Grapes
Some historians believe that Leif Erikson saw Vitis labrusca growing wild in Vinland way back in the 11th century. This shows that fox grapes were common in North America long before Europeans arrived. Scientists like Carl Linnaeus officially identified and recorded these vines in the mid-1700s.
In the 1800s, American vines, including Vitis labrusca, were taken to Europe. These vines accidentally carried a tiny bug called phylloxera. This bug caused huge damage to European vineyards. It was a big problem for the Vitis vinifera grapes grown there.
Also in the 1800s, a man named Ephraim Bull from Concord, Massachusetts, grew seeds from wild fox grape vines. He created the famous Concord grape. This grape became a very important crop in the United States.
What Fox Grape Vines Look Like
Most Vitis labrusca grapes are red. However, there are also white types, like Niagara, and pink ones, like Catawba. As the grapes get close to harvest time, they become fully ripe. Then, they easily separate from their small stems.
If you gently squeeze a fox grape, its thick skin will easily slip off. The inside part, called the pulp, stays in a ball. This is why they are called "slip-skin" grapes. Another way to identify labrusca vines is by their large, thick leaves. The underside of these leaves is hairy, with dense brown or white hairs.
Like many other American vines, Vitis labrusca can naturally resist many grape diseases. This includes the phylloxera bug. However, it is a very strong plant. In many places, it can even grow like a weed or an invasive species.
Where Fox Grapes Grow
You can find Vitis labrusca growing along the eastern coast of North America. They grow from Nova Scotia in Canada all the way down to Georgia in the United States. They also grow westward to the Mississippi River.
Fox grapes and their hybrids can handle the tough weather in eastern North America. This includes very cold winters and hot, humid summers. This is different from the European vinifera grapes, which prefer drier conditions. Because of this, labrusca grapes are grown in many areas. These include parts of New York, Virginia, Ohio, and Michigan.
The "Foxy" Smell
Vitis labrusca grapes have a very strong and unique smell. This smell is often called "foxy." It does not come from the animal fox. Instead, it describes the special earthy and sweet smell you can find in fresh Concord grapes. You can also smell it in grape juice made from Concord and Niagara grapes.
In the 1920s, scientists discovered the specific chemical that causes this "foxy" smell. It is called methyl anthranilate.
