Nature Field Guide
Sea Grape
- Spanish name
- Uva de playa
- Scientific name
- Coccoloba uvifera
What Do Pico & Tati Think?
Pico wants to sketch the tree’s silhouette. Tati suggests looking for three clues before guessing its name. What would you notice first?
Species overview
About the Sea Grape
Sea grape is a coastal shrub or small tree with broad rounded leaves. The veins may be reddish, especially on younger foliage. Hanging fruit clusters explain its common name. Look for the whole combination rather than identifying it from fruit color alone.
Identification
Key Features of the Sea Grape
Large rounded leathery leaves
Often reddish leaf veins
Hanging clusters of rounded fruits
Habitat & range
Coastal vegetation behind sandy beaches.
Local observations
The National Museum and a coastal vegetation survey document the Caribbean coast; these tags do not claim absence from other coasts. Regional tags are evidence-based connections, not a guarantee at every location or an exhaustive range.
When to observe
Visit in daylight and compare leaves, flowers and fruits. Flowering and fruiting vary by place, weather and individual plant; a plant may not be in bloom during your visit.
Conservation & care
Observe from paths and leave leaves, bark, flowers and fruits attached. Do not taste wild plants or offer them to pets. Ask a knowledgeable guide to confirm the species.
Observation activity
Draw one leaf and one other feature without picking anything. Compare your sketch with the illustration and record whether you saw flowers, fruits or neither.