Sea Grape is a sprawling bush or small tree that is found near sea beaches
throughout tropical America. It reaches a maximum height of 8 m, but
usually just a little more than 2 m tall. It has large, round, leathery
leaves, up to 25 cm across, with a red primary vein. The fragrant white
flowers are very small and borne on 6-10 in spikes. The bark is smooth and
yellowish. In late summer female trees bear purplish fruit, about 2 cm in
diameter, in large grape-like clusters. The fruit is fleshy with a hard
stone. The fruits are edible raw and are made into "seaside jelly" or
wine. In the West Indies, they boil the wood to yield a red dye. Wood from
larger trees is prized for cabinet work.
Identification credit: Prashant Awale
Photographed at Sagar Upavan, Mumbai.
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The flower labeled Sea Grape is ...