Sea Grape Facts For Kids: Learn All About This Tropical Shrub

The sea grape is a tropical shrub that can be found near beaches and in other coastal areas.

Sea grape, scientifically Coccoloba uvifera, is a flowering plant that belongs to the Polygonaceae family. The leaves of the sea grape are also edible and can be used in salads or as a garnish.

Sea grape is native to tropical and subtropical parts of the world, mainly the Caribbean and America, including the Bahamas, southern Florida, Bermuda, and the greater and lesser Antilles.

In this article, we will provide some interesting facts about sea grapes for kids!

Sea Grape Classification As Plant

The plant received its name from Leonard Plukenet (he called it Uvifera littorea) and Hans Sloane (Prunus maritime racemosa) in 1969. Both these names reflect the concept of 'sea-grape' (the first one means 'grape-bearer of the shore' and the second one means 'maritime grape-cluster Prunus'). Now, let's see some other facts about the classification of sea grape trees.

Apart from their scientific name, sea grapes are also known as bow pigeon, bay grape, caracas kino, Columbian kino, Coccoloba kino, horse wood, hopwood, mangrove grape, Jamaican kino, pigeon wood, platter lead, seaside grape, seaside plum, shore grape, shore sea-grape, West Indian kino, South American kino, wild grape, wild seaside grape, and wild mangrove grape.

As is already mentioned these trees are mostly found in the coastal regions. They are small trees or sprawling evergreen shrub that grows up to 6-49 ft (2-15 m). Seagrape trees are tolerant of salty soils as long as they are drained. However, it is seen that they grow faster in fine soils.

The leaves can grow up to 6 in (15 cm) with a breadth of 8 in (20.3 cm). They are generally, leathery, short-petioled, glossy, dark green, and have wavy margins.

Being a dioecious species, female and male flowers are borne on different plants. They are white, small, and fragrant. A sea grape flower possesses eight stamens and five petals.

Fruit is produced by only female plants. It is 3-4 in (7-10 cm) in diameter and has a shape similar to a pear. The fruit generally remains green for a long time and then turns deep purple. It is edible and each one has a large seed that takes two-thirds of the fruit's total volume.

Propagation And Pruning Of Sea Grape

Seagrape trees are drought-tolerant, wind-resistant, and can easily endure salt spray. Let's see how you can grow these trees and take care of them.

A very important thing to keep in mind is that even though these plants can flourish in sandy soil and salty air, they cannot survive frost. Also, their seeds need to be planted immediately after gathering and cannot be stored for a long time.

Since the female and male sea grape flowers are borne on different plants, cross-pollination is needed for the trees to produce fruit. Honey bees and other insects are known for playing a crucial role in this process.

Finally, sea grapes can become messy if you don't prune them properly on time. But after a period of 10 years, the work becomes much easier and only needs watering and occasional pruning.

Nutrition Of Sea Grapes

As we have got through the classification and propagation of sea grapes, it is time to see the nutritional properties of these fruits.

Seagrapes are known for containing vitamins and minerals like vitamin A, vitamin C, zinc, calcium, iron, and vegetable protein. It is also said that 3.5 oz (100 g) of sea grapes can give you up to 1.8 mg of Iodine.

Health Benefits Of Sea Grapes

The nutritional values of sea grapes provide us with various health benefits. Though it is not very popular, this fruit can help you deal with several ailments.

The calcium, protein, and polyunsaturated fatty acid found in sea grapes can strengthen bones and reduce the symptoms of arthritis. They can also improve your memory and eyesight, increase the elasticity of blood vessels, reduce cholesterol, and prevent oxidation.

Seagrapes can also give you better hair and skin and help you deal with diabetes and obesity.

FAQs

What are sea grapes good for?

Seagrapes are good for skin, hair, heart eyesight, memory, and bones. They can also prevent goiter and arthritis.

How fast do sea grape trees grow?

Sea grape trees grow really fast and need frequent pruning.

What are sea grapes?

Seagrape is one type of tropical tree that produces edible fruit that is filled with nutrients and is beneficial to our health.

Are sea grapes edible?

Yes, sea grapes are edible to humans and animals.

What do sea grapes taste like?

The taste of sea grapes is more of a mixture of sweet and acidic flavors when eaten raw.

Are sea grapes protected in Florida?

Yes, the importance of salt-tolerant vegetation, like sea grapes, is recognized by the Department of Environmental Protection in Florida

Is sea grape a plant?

Yes, it is a plant that belongs to the Buckwheat family and can be seen in a tropical area.

When do sea grapes ripen in Florida?

The trees produce the fruit somewhere in the mid-summer, and they remain on the branches from August to October.

What fruit do you find in the sea?

There are many many examples of tropical fruit; some of them are pretty famous, like papayas, bananas, avocados, star-fruits, dates, and kiwis.

Are sea grapes toxic to dogs?

Even though no evidence is found as of yet, it is said that this fruit like grape, can be harmful to dogs, if consumed in large quantities.

What is in sea grapes?

The fruits of a sea grape tree are rich in minerals like zinc, vegetable protein, iron, and calcium.

Where do sea grapes grow in the ocean?

They grow in beach strands, coastal scrub, coastal hammocks, and coastal grasslands.

How deep are sea grape roots?

Studies show that the roots of this plant do not go any deeper than 3 ft (0.91 m) in the ground.