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''Vitis rotundifolia'', or muscadine, is a grapevine species native to the southeastern and south-central United States from Florida to Delaware, west to eastern Texas and Oklahoma.〔(Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map )〕 It has been extensively cultivated since the 16th century. The plants are well adapted to their native warm and humid climate; they need fewer chilling hours than better known varieties and they thrive on summer heat. Muscadine berries range from bronze to dark purple to black in color when ripe. However, many wild varieties stay green through maturity. They have skin sufficiently tough that eating the raw fruit often involves biting a small hole in the skin to suck out the pulp inside. Muscadines are not only eaten fresh, but also are used in making wine, juice, and jelly. Muscadine grapes are rich sources of polyphenols and other nutrients studied for their potential health benefits. Gallic acid, (+)-catechin and epicatechin are the major phenolics in seeds, while ellagic acid, myricetin, quercetin, kaempferol, and trans-resveratrol are the major phenolics in the skins. In a natural setting, muscadines are important plants for improving wildlife habitat by providing cover, browse, and fruit for a wide variety of animals.〔(Williams, Rick and Tim Baxley. Managing Native Vegetation for Wildlife. University of Florida IFAS Extension. )〕 ==Taxonomy== Although in the same genus ''Vitis'' with the other grapevine species, muscadines belong to a separate subgenus, ''Muscadinia'' (the other grapevine species belong to subgenus ''Vitis''), and some have suggested giving it standing as a genus of its own. Some taxonomists have also suggested splitting two additional species off from ''Vitis rotundifolia'', ''Vitis munsoniana'' and ''Vitis popenoei''. All have 40 chromosomes, rather than 38, are generally not cross-compatibile with other ''Vitis'' species, and most hybrids between the subgenera are sterile. A few, however, are at least moderately fertile, and have been used in breeding. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Vitis rotundifolia」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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