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Coccoloba uvifera (L.) L.

Sea grape

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassMagnoliopsidaDicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
SubclassCaryophyllidaeCacti, many other succulents, carnivorous plants, and leadworts
OrderCaryophyllalesIncludes cacti, carnations, amaranths, ice plants, and many carnivorous plants
FamilyPolygonaceaeKnotweed or smartweed family
GenusCoccolobaNew Latin, alteration of Coccolobis, from cocco- (Latinized form of Greek kokkos), “berry, seed”; and -lobis (from Greek lobos), “lobe, capsule, pod”
SpeciesuviferaFrom uva, “grape,” and -fera, “bearing”

About plant names...

If there’s a picture of a Florida or Caribbean beach, there’s probably a sea grape tree lurking in the background. This is the native habitat of sea grape, which is also found in Miss­issippi and Hawaii.

Plants: Trees are up to 10-40′ (3-12 m) in height and up to 35′ (10 m) wide, often branching broadly. Bark is smooth, peeling, and grayish, with irregular patches of white, gray and light brown.

Leaves: Leathery, broad, almost hairless leaves have prom­inent red veins. They are alternate and round to kidney-shaped, and up to 8″ (20 cm) around. At the base of each leaf stem (petiole) is a red, collar-like sheath, an identifying feature of this species. Leaves become entirely red before they fall in the winter. Young leaves are coppery or bronze-colored.

Flowers: Inconspicuous white flowers appear on thin racemes about 1′ (30 cm) long. They have mild fragrance.

Fruits: Flowers become dense grape-like clusters. Each grape is roughly spherical, ¾″ (1.9 cm) in size, maturing from green through shades of yellow and red, to deep purple. Fruits appear only on female trees. Each grape contains a single, hard seed.

Edibility: Fruits range from tart to sweet, and can be made into jelly, said to taste similar to apple jelly, or wine. The seed within is hard enough to crack a tooth, so be careful processing or eating them.

Online References:

Www.backyardnature.net

Hort.ifas.ufl.edu (PDF)

Hawaiian Plants and Tropical Flowers

Wikimedia Commons

Www.floridaforaging.com

Programs.ifas.ufl.edu

Coccoloba uvifera (sea grape)

4/9/2015 · Beach, Marco Island, Florida · ≈ 3 × 2′ (90 × 60 cm)

Coccoloba uvifera (sea grape)

4/13/2015 · Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center, Everglades National Park, Florida · ≈ 10 × 15″ (25 × 37 cm)

Polygonum uvifera L.

 

Coccoloba uvifera description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.


 

Coccoloba uvifera (sea grape)

4/10/2015 · Gulf Coast Visitor Center, Everglades National Park, Everglades City, Florida

Coccoloba uvifera (sea grape)

4/10/2015 · Gulf Coast Visitor Center, Everglades National Park, Everglades City, Florida · ≈ 16 × 10″ (39 × 26 cm)

Coccoloba uvifera (sea grape)

4/10/2015 · Gulf Coast Visitor Center, Everglades National Park, Everglades City, Florida

Coccoloba uvifera (sea grape)

4/9/2015 · Beach, Marco Island, Florida

Coccoloba uvifera (sea grape)

4/10/2015 · Gulf Coast Visitor Center, Everglades National Park, Everglades City, Florida

Range: Zones 10-11:

About this map...