native grape of southeastern United States; origin of many cultivated varieties
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dull-purple grape of southern United States
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Grapevine \Grape"vine`\, n. (Bot.) A vine or climbing shrub, of the genus {Vitis}, having small green flowers and lobed leaves, and bearing the fruit called {grapes}.
Note: The common grapevine of the Old World is {Vitis vinifera}, and is a native of Central Asia. Another variety is that yielding small seedless grapes commonly called {Zante currants}. The northern {Fox grape} of the United States is the {V. Labrusca}, from which, by cultivation, has come the Isabella variety. The southern {Fox grape}, or {Muscadine}, is the {V. vulpina}. The {Frost grape} is {V. cordifolia}, which has very fragrant flowers, and ripens after the early frosts.
Muscadine \Mus"ca*dine\, n. [See {Muscadel}.] 1. (Bot.) A name given to several very different kinds of grapes, but in America used chiefly for the scuppernong, or southern fox grape, which is said to be the parent stock of the Catawba. See {Grapevine}.
2. (Bot.) A fragrant and delicious pear.
3. (Zo["o]l.) See {Muscardin}.
{Northern muscadine} (Bot.), a derivative of the northern fox grape, and scarcely an improvement upon it.
{Royal muscadine} (Bot.), a European grape of great value. Its berries are large, round, and of a pale amber color. Called also {golden chasselas}.
Muscardin \Mus"car*din\, n. [F., fr. muscadin a musk-scented lozenge, fr. muscade nutmeg, fr. L. muscus musk. See {Muscadel}.] (Zo["o]l.) The common European dormouse; -- so named from its odor. [Written also {muscadine}.]