I found this vine in North Florida near the Suwannee River. Looks like a grape, but the leaves were not quite right for a Muscadine. The fruit was very sweet, yes I am crazy enough to taste it even if I don’t know what it is. I only tasted, I did not eat them. This was in the summer when other grapes were bearing fruit in the woods.
Dan the Madison County Agricultural Agent helped me identify this as a Peppervine, a member of the grape family. Some information I read says it is ok to eat and some says it is not.
Merriwether’s Guide to Edible Wild Plants of Texas and the Southwest @ www.foragingtexas.com said: ”Dangers: Some people have reported stomach upset after eating peppervine fruit. Limit yourself to small servings until you know how your body will react.”
Duke University @ www.duke.edu said: “The fruits are NOT edible but said to have a peppery taste.” I wonder who tasted it at Duke.
University of Texas @ www.utexas.edu said: “Fruits with Unknown Toxicity: Avoid Eating Them.” I think their lawyer must have written that.
The United States Department of Agriculture @ www.plants.usda.gov said it is a food source for mammals and birds. Do you know any mammals?
Eat at your own risk, I am going to try another one the next time I find one of these vines at the 40 acre woods.
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So you found these on your property? Maybe the deer like them, I would like to plant some of those.
Found this one just down the road by the Suwannee River around the end of August. Pretty fruit and I will look for them again this summer. I would not mind having some of these around if it will help keep the deer off my fruit trees.