Grape family (Vitaceae)
The grape family has over 600 species, spread mainly in the tropics and subtropics — shrubs and lianas that climb by tendrils. Tendrils are modified shoots. Leaves are simple or compound, long-stalked, with stipules. Flowers are small, regular, colourless, gathered in a compound raceme (panicle). Flower formula: K5 (very small) C5 A5 G1; the fruit is a berry. The cultivated grapevine (Vitis vinifera) reaches 2–4 m up to 10 m and is propagated vegetatively (cuttings, layering). In the grape flower the 5 petals are joined at the tips and cover the stamens and pistil like a small cap, which falls off when the flower opens. About 500 grape cultivars are grown in Uzbekistan: kishmish, kattaqo‘rg‘on, hiloliy, husayni, sohibi, rizamat, toyifi, charos and others. The folk breeder and academician Rizamat ota Musamuhamedov (1881–1979) contributed greatly to the development of viticulture. Virginia creeper (a “wild grape” from North America) is an ornamental liana; do not eat its berries. The wild grape is in the Red Book of Uzbekistan.
Observation: look at a bunch of grapes (from the market), count the berries and seeds if any, and put a grape leaf and tendril in a herbarium. Safety: wash grapes before eating; do not give small children whole grapes (they can choke); do not eat Virginia creeper berries; only adults use knives.