Amur grape Vitis amurensis Rupr.
The Amur grape is a woody vine from the genus Vitus (grapes), which can be about 15 metres long. It grows in the part of the Far East with a subarctic climate. This is the northernmost species of grape, which can resist temperatures up to −45 °C, but does not tolerate drought.
You can see it on your right along the route.
The tendrils are able to coil, wrapping around the branches of neighbouring plants and other supports. The bark is dark, peeling in long stripes on old stems.
The leaves vary greatly in shape. They can be solid, three- or five-lobed. In autumn, they assume bright colours – red, yellow, orange and brownish.
The Amur grape is a dioecious plant. The flowers are small and green, with nectar for bees to make honey.
The fruits are spherical dark purple berries with thick skins, their taste varying from very sour to sweet. The fruits are eaten raw or preserved: they are dried or used to make jam or vinegar.
Grape varieties obtained through crossing cultivated varieties with the Amur grape are grown in northern viticultural regions.
