Coccoloba uvifera

I walked across the street yesterday evening and took these pics at Cemetary Beach.

Click to enlarge



Description:

Sea grapes are grown as both spreading, evergreen shrubs and trees that reach approximately 30 feet in height. The leaves are round, alternate, and measure as much as 6 inches in diameter. Leaf texture is leathery, and color is bright green to reddish nearest the petioles. Older leaves are often rust colored before they drop. Flowers are small and white, blooming nearly year round. Fruits are fleshy and hang in grape-like clusters. Individual fruits typically measure under 1 inch in diameter. Immature fruit is green in color, while mature fruits are reddish or purple.

Habitat:
Sea grapes are common in coastal dunes, backdunes, and hammocks. They are also heavily utilized as landscaping plants. They are exceedingly rare in Indiana, USA.

The reddish fruits of the sea grape may be eaten raw, cooked into jellies and jams, or fermented into sea grape wine.

They grow all over the beaches, You can eat them, but they’re sour and the fruit is barely bigger than the seed. My friends parrot loves them.

In the olden days, the leaves were used as toilet paper!

Most of this information came from HERE.

Thanks Daisy!

0 thoughts on “Coccoloba uvifera

  1. Thanks Mark, I don’t feel so bad for not knowing what they were now that I’ve found they are rare in Indiana. Just figures. Damned land locked state!I don’t think I would want to try that leaf as T.P. By the way I love the pic of the tree growing in the sand. I have never seen a tree growing in sand like that. I’ve seen plenty of bushes (on Assetegue) but never trees. It’s really cool looking. Thanks!

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