Be careful when picking Moonseed vs. Wild Grape because not everything that looks like Grape is edible!
Therefore, you should be careful about mistakenly eating Moonseed vine in the wild.
Read on to find out how to distinguish Moonseed from Wild Grape to avoid the risk of poisoning.
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Moonseed Vs. Wild Grape: Similarities
Did you know humans have been gathering and eating Wild Grapes (Vitis vinifera sylvestris) for 15,000 years and only domesticated them (Vitis vinifera vinifera) about 8,000 years ago?
The Wild Grapes would grow almost anywhere, serving as an unusual food source for people foraging or lost in the forest.
The closet lookalike of Wild Grape is Moonseed, also known as common or Canadian Moonseed, which displays similar-looking tall vines, serrated leaves, and juicy fruits.
There are many reasons to believe that they are similar plants because of their many similarities.
Here are a few strong similarities between Moonseed vs. Wild Grape.
- Vine Growth: Both are wild species, and vining plants climb and sprawl along surfaces, often growing over 10 feet tall.
- Leaf Shape: When observed from a distance, Wild Grapes, and Moonseed leaves would look similar in shape and color because of their palm-like appearance.
- Leaf Arrangement: The leaves are arranged alternately along the stems because each node sits opposite.
- Berries or Fruits: Both plants produce berries or Grapefruits that are dark in color and look juicy. Wild Grapefruits are bluish-black when examined closely, and Moonseed fruits are dark purplish.
- Growth Season: Both vines will bear flowers in summer and produce fruits by late summer or fall (September-October).
- Location: Both plants are available in similar areas, often growing in woodlands, forests, weed fields, or water bodies with enough moisture and sunlight.
- Flower Structure: The flowers of Wild Grapes and common Moonseed look the same, small and greenish-yellow arranged in clusters, before maturing into fruits.
- Natural Range: Both vines are native to North America, ranging from Canada in the North to Mexico in the South, adding to the confusion.
Moonseed Vs. Wild Grape: Differences
Because Wild Grapes are edible, many unaware forest foragers may eat Moonseed fruits.
Upon eating the Moonseed fruits, you may experience mouth sores, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, and sometimes irritation in bright light.
Therefore, everyone should know about Moonseed and how not to confuse them for Wild Grapes.
| Characteristics | Moonseed | Wild Grapes |
|---|---|---|
| Family | Menispermaceae | Vitaceae |
| Edible | Toxic berries, not edible | Edible grapes |
| Fruit Shape | Crescent-shaped berries | Rounded or oval grapes |
| Leaf Shape | Lobed or palmate with unique veining | Palmate with serrated edges |
| Flower Appearance | Small, greenish-yellow flowers in clusters | Small, greenish-yellow flowers in clusters |
| Climber | Twining stems | Tendrils |
| Location | Moist woodlands | Various locations |
| Poisonous | Poisonous | Non-poisonous |
Here are some important differences between Moonseed vs. Wild Grapes.
1. Family and Edible Fruit
First, you should know about the plant family Wild Grape and Moonseed belongs to, which can clear the air.
They are not from the same plant family, whereas Wild Grape belongs to the edible Vitaceae family with up to 10,000 varieties.
On the other hand, Moonseed belongs to the Menispermaceae family, which is hardly known to be edible but possesses some medicinal uses.
2. Fruit Color, Size, and Seed
The first thing you should look for in Wild Grapes is the color of the fruit.
Wild Grapes fruits are dark blue, almost black, and sometimes light green, measuring 0.3 to 1.27 cm in diameter.
On the other hand, Moonseed fruits are bluish-black or purple-black, measuring 1 to 1.5 cm in diameter.
Similarly, if you open the Moonseed fruit, the seed would look like a crescent moon, whereas Wild Grape seeds number 2 to 4 within a single berry look pear-shaped.
3. Flavor and Smell
Maybe it would help to tell the difference if you knew how Wild Grapes and Moonseed taste and smell.
Wild Grape berries taste tart with sweetness as they get fuller, but their skin tastes slightly bitter.
On the other hand, Moonseed berries have a bitter flavor with no presence of tangy sweetness as a Grape.
Similarly, Wild Grapes berry would smell sweet instead of Moonseed, which smells leafy.
4. Vine Growth and Leaf Shape
Moonseed vines would not grow as tall as Wild Grapes because they do not have tendrils to attach to the surrounding surface.
Their twining vines would hardly reach from 6 to 30 feet tall with 3-8 inches long heart-shaped leaves.
On the other hand, Wild Grapes can climb over 50 feet using their tendrils. Therefore, they are found hanging by tall trees and cliffs.
Their leaves are palm-shaped with serrated edges and have a traditional Grape leaf shape. Pay attention to this particular feature if you cannot locate other differences.
5. Habitat and Cultural Significance
Common Moonseed is typically available in moist woodlands along eastern North America, Mexico, and East Asia streams.
On the other hand, Wild Grapes are prevalent in many parts of the world and found in various habitats, including woodlands, fields, and even urban areas.
In fact, Wild Grapes hold vital cultural significance because their berries help winemaking and meal preparation in festivals.
Moonseeds are just weed plants without cultural importance in any part of the world.
Virginia creepers (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) are another Wild Grape lookalikes, which you can tell by their five-leafed ivy leaves and typically bright pink stems.
From Editorial Team
Conclusion!
Did you know you can pickle, juice, ferment, and even eat Wild Grapes raw, similar to the Grapes you find in the market?
Moreover, their leaves are also edible and often eaten raw in salads or cooked. Therefore, Wild Grapes are not much different from domesticated Grapes.
Nonetheless, you should be wary about picking Wild Grape lookalikes, especially when foraging the forests for edibles.
