Sea Grape 



379 



tube; the ovan- is bluntly 3-anglcd, the single ovule erect, and there are 3 styles. 

 The fruit of most species has a thin fleshy pulp, though it is sometimes dry and 

 crustaceous, containing a pit (achene) and crowned by the persistent calyx-lobes. 



The generic name is from the Greek, signifying a berry with a husk. Three 

 years after its pubhcation by Browne, Linnaeus modified the spelling to Coccoloba, 

 C. Uvijera Linnaeus being the type. 



Our two species may be distinguished as follows: 



Leaves orbicular or broader than long, cordate at the base; seacoast tree. i. C. Uvijera. 



Leaves oblong to obovate, narrowed or rounded at the base; tree of ham- 

 mocks. 2. C. laurijolia. 



I . SEA GRAPE Coccolobis Uvifera (Linnaeus) Jacquin 

 Polygonum Uvijera Linnaeus 



One of the most characteristic trees or shrubs of the tropical American sea- 

 coast, this interesting species is abundant on the shores of southern Florida, usually 

 not exceeding 5 meters in height, but occasionally 

 becoming 15 meters high, with a trunk up to 1.3 

 meters in diameter. When standing alone it pre- 

 sents a round mass, often broader than high. It is 

 the typical species of the genus. 



The thin bark is brown and smooth, mottled 

 with hghter-colored areas; the stout young twigs 

 are ver}- finely hair}-, yellowish, becoming smooth 

 and gray. The leathery leaves are orbicular, or 

 often wider than long, 2 dm. broad or less, rounded, 

 notched, or short-pointed, the base deeply cordate; 

 they are ver}^ short-stalked, their stipular sheaths 

 membranous, i cm. long or less. The flowers are 

 borne. in small fascicles in elongated racemes, which 

 develop almost continuously throughout the year, so 

 that the tree is nearly always in flower; the flower- 

 stalks are 3 or 4 mm. long and minutely hair\'; the lobes of the bell-shaped calyx 

 are white, ovate and rounded, about as long as the stamens. The clusters of 

 fruit, which much resemble bunches of grapes, are conspicuous, each fruit being 

 pur]3le, globular, i to 2 cm. in diameter; the astringent pulp encloses the red pit. 



The wood is very nearly as heavy as water, its specific gravity being 0.96, dark 

 brown and hard. It is used in small quantities for furniture, and on the Windward 

 islands much used for fuel. It is also called Horsewood and Hoopwood. 



^^^-iM 



Fig. 333. Sea Orapc. 



