Wuhan grape facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wuhan grape |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Vitis
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| Species: |
wuhanensis
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| Synonyms | |
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V. w. var. arachnoidea X.D.Wang & C.L.Li. |
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The Wuhan grape (scientific name: Vitis wuhanensis) is a special type of grape plant. People in China call it wu han pu tao. This plant is a liana, which means it's a woody vine that climbs up other plants or structures. It belongs to the grape family, just like the grapes you might eat!
This unique grape grows in warm, sunny places. It likes areas that are either tropical or sub-tropical. You can find it naturally in three provinces in China: Henan, Hubei, and Jiangxi. It often grows in valleys, on hillsides, and inside forests or areas with lots of shrubs. These plants are usually found at heights between 300 and 700 meters above sea level.
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Discovering the Wuhan Grape
The Wuhan grape was first officially described in 1996. A scientist named C.L.Li gave it its scientific name, Vitis wuhanensis. This name tells us it's a type of Vitis (the genus for grapes) and that it's connected to Wuhan.
What Does the Wuhan Grape Look Like?
The Wuhan grape is a climbing vine. It has leaves and stems that help it reach for sunlight. Like other grape plants, it produces flowers and then small fruits.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
The Wuhan grape has an interesting way of reproducing. It's known as a polygamo-dioecious species. This means that some plants have only male flowers, some have only female flowers, and some might have both.
The plant usually starts to flower in April and May. The male flowers have parts that look like female parts, but they don't work. These are called "abortive gynoecia".
After flowering, the plant starts to grow its fruits. These fruits are small, round berries. They are about 6 to 7 millimeters wide. You can see these berries appearing as early as May and they continue to ripen until July.
Where Was It First Found?
One important sample of this plant was collected in Jiangxi province. It was found near a place called Pingxiang. This specific sample was later given a special name: V. b. var. arachnoidea. It was also found growing at a height between 300 and 700 meters, just like other Wuhan grapes.
