One of about 30 Asian species or wild vines with the complete botanical name Vitis ficifolia Bunge. Botanical synonyms are Vitis heyneana subsp. ficifolia, Vitis kaempferi and Vitis thunbergii. It occurs in China, Taiwan, Japan and Korea, where a few specimens are cultivated. As a light needy species it grows in light forests or at the edge of forests. The visually attractive grapes are inedible. The vine plays no role in wine production. Because of its decorative red leaves it is mainly used as an ornamental vine. Two other Asian species are Vitis amurensis and Vitis coignetiae. See also under Asian vines and vine systematics.
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Thorsten Rahn
Restaurantleiter, Sommelier, Weindozent und Autor; Dresden