Coccoloba uvifera

Coccoloba uvifera is a species of tree and flowering plant in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae. Its common names include seagrape and baygrape. It is native to coastal beaches throughout tropical America and the Caribbean. It has edible fruit, among other uses.

Description

A medium to large evergreen tree. It grows 6-15 m high and spreads to 3 m across. The stem is erect and woody and branching. The bark is pale and blotchy. The leaves are glossy green and almost round, but heart shaped at the base. They are rounded at the tip, and leathery. The leaves can be 10-27 cm long by 12-25 cm wide. Often male and female flowers are on separate trees. The flowers are white and have a scent. Flowers occur in clusters, with flowers on equal length flower stalks along a central stem. These are 15-30 cm long. The fruit hang in clusters. They are small and round and white or purple. They are grape like and edible. The flesh is juicy and thin. The seed is hard and nut-like.

Edible Uses

The fruits are eaten fresh or used to make jam, jelly, wine, drinks, soups, and syrups. The fruit is sold in markets.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are used for jam, jelly or wine. They are also used in drinks, soups and syrups. Fruit can be eaten fresh.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

Coccoloba uvifera is a popular ornamental plant in south Florida yards. It serves as a dune stabilizer and protective habitat for small animals. Tall sea grape plants behind beaches help prevent sea turtles from being distracted by lights from nearby buildings. The sap has been used for dyeing and tanning leather. The wood has occasionally been used in furniture, as firewood, or for making charcoal. The fruits of the sea grape may be eaten raw, cooked into jellies and jams, or fermented into sea grape wine. The leaves of the sea grape can be made into a tea and honey bees can make a certain type of honey with the nectar of the sea grape flowers. In other places native to sea grapes, various parts of the plant are used for medicinal purposes. For example, in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean the roots and bark of the plants are used in traditional medicine, while in the Yucatán peninsula tea made from the bark of sea grape mixed with alcohol is used for ulcers. In French Guiana, a juice made from the whole plant called Jamaica kino, is used to treat diarrhea and dysentery.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It is native to tropical America. It can tolerate wind and salt. It has reasonable drought tolerance and can grow in damp soils. It prefers light, well-drained soils in an open sunny position. It is frost tender. Plants normally grow near beaches along sea shores. It adapts well to sandy soils. In Brisbane Botanical Gardens. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.

Where It Grows

Africa, Anguilla, Asia, Australia, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Caribbean, Cayman Islands, Central America, China, Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ghana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Jamaica*, Kiribati, Lesser Antilles*, Maldives, Marquesas, Martinique, Mexico*, Montserrat, Myanmar, Nauru, Nicaragua, North America, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Panama, Philippines, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, Senegal, South America, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and Grenadines, Suriname, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad, Turks & Caicos, Tuvalu, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, West Africa, West Indies*,

Cultivation

Plants are grown by seed. They can also be grown by cuttings or layering.

Propagation

Seed - sow in containers at 20°c. Greenwood cuttings Air layering.

Other Uses

A red astringent substance called W. Indian kino (a tannin?) is extracted from the bark and used in tanning and dyeing. A dye is obtained from the peel of the fruit. The heartwood is reddish-brown, occasionally with nearly black linear markings, which give it a pleasing effect in cabinet work; the fairly thick band of sapwood is a very light red. The wood is very close-grained, very hard, strong and very heavy, but very susceptible to attack by dry-wood termites. It takes an excellent polish. When available in sufficient sizes, it is highly valued for cabinet work, furniture making and wood carving. A popular fuel wood. Plants are very tolerant of pruning and can be grown as a hedge. A valuable hedge and windbreak plant for coastal areas. The tree is a natural pioneer within its native range and, especially with its various uses, would make a very good candidate as a pioneer plant for restoring coastal woodlands and establishing woodland gardens.

Production

It is a moderately fast growing tree. Fruit are produced in 3-4 years. The fruit do not ripen at the same time, so often a cloth is spread under the tree and ripe fruit collected as they fall when the branches are shaken.

Other Information

The fruit are sold in markets.

Notes

There are 120 Coccoloba species. In Botanical Gardens in Slovenia presumably in a hot house.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Carnero, Jamaican kino, Khrut thale, Kino, Matora, Meybiskadhuru gas, Nho bien, Papaturro, Platter leaf, Pohon anggur laut, Schusterdruif, Shore grape, Sistri-droifi, Uva caleta, Uva de playa, Uva de praia, Uvero

References (52)

• Abbiw, D.K., 1990, Useful Plants of Ghana. West African uses of wild and cultivated plants. Intermediate Technology Publications and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. p 42
• Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 133
• Barwick, M., 2004, Tropical and Subtropical Trees. A Worldwide Encyclopedic Guide. Thames and Hudson p 122
• Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 269
• Burkill, H. M., 1985, The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 4. Kew.

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