Seagrape (Coccoloba uvifera)

Seagrape (Coccoloba uvifera) is a species of plant in the Polygonaceae, small tree, branching, brown or reddish bark, almost round or heart-shaped leaves, up to 30 cm wide, thick, young leaves are red, old leaves are green and the lower side has veins - thick veins.

C. uvifera produces fruit in long panicles. The fruit is round or oval, up to 2 cm long, green when young, red when ripe and becomes purplish and black.

This species is wind resistant, drought tolerant, shade tolerant and very salt water tolerant. Often used to stabilize shorelines. The sap is used to color and tan leather. Wood is sometimes used as furniture, firewood and to make charcoal. The fruit can be made into jam or eaten straight from the tree. The leaves are made into tea.

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Polygonaceae
Subfamily: Eriogonoideae
Tribe: Coccolobeae
Genus: Coccoloba
Species: Coccoloba uvifera

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