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Sea Grape
Coccoluba uvifera
16.1889, -88.2326
Field Notes
Description:
A member of the buckwheat family, sea grape is a tropical shrub or moderate-sized tree with evergreen, leathery leaves, fragrant flowers, and edible fruits that resemble grapes. When grown on the beach, the wind and salt spray shape the plant into a low-growing, sprawling shrub. Inland, sea grape may grow up to 50 feet tall, boasting a tapered, vase like habit.
Sea grape produces large, shiny leaves that may be up to 11 inches long, with a heart-shaped base, fuzzy undersides and red veins. The fragrant white flowers appear on narrow stalks throughout the year, growing to a length of between 10 to 12 inches. Fruits are about 1 inch long, and may be round or pear-shaped. Fruits hang clustered together like grapes, shifting in color from light green when young to pink when mature and ripe. The thin bark of the shrub is smooth and grayish brown, marked with orange blotches.
Habitat:
Small tropical caye of coast of Belize.
Notes:
The fruits are edible raw or cooked, and may be used to make jelly or wine. Sea grape is excellent in a low-maintenance wildlife garden, as it will attract butterflies with its flowers and birds with its fruits. If given shelter from direct salt spray and wind, sea grape can be grown as a moderate-sized shade tree.
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