Common Name: Sea Grape

General Information

Sea grape is an evergreen shrub, or sometimes a tree, varying in height and habit according to its environment. In more exposed conditions it can be a spreading shrub just 1 metres tall, whilst in good soil in sheltered conditions it can sometimes grow up to 15 metres tall. In larger trees tha bole can be straight and up to 40cm in diameter[].
The plant is often harvested from the wild as a food, medicine and source of wood - when available in sufficiently large sizes the wood is particularly valued for cabinet work and furniture. It is sometimes cultivated for its edible fruits and is often grown as an ornamental, being particularly useful as a hedge in maritime areas[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Surinam; C. America - Panama to Mexico; Caribbean

Habitat

A pioneer woody plant of sandy sea shores[]. Coastal strand and limestone thickets[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	10.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Bees
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the drier to humid, lowland tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 500 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 21 - 26°c, but can tolerate 10 - 32°c[]. Mature plants can be killed by temperatures of -3°c or lower, but young growth can be severely damaged at -1°c[]. Plants can withstand occasional light, short-lived frosts but will be killed if the temperature falls to -1°c or lower for any period of time[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 700 - 1,400mm, but tolerates 400 - 2,500mm[].
Prefers a moist but well-drained fertile soil in a sunny position[, ]. Succeeds in poor sandy soils close to the sea[]. Tolerates a variety of soil conditions, including salinity[]. Plants are tolerant of maritime exposure[]. Established plants are drought tolerant[]. Prefers a pH in the range 6.5 - 7.5, tolerating 5.8 - 8[].
Plants can start fruiting when about 6 - 8 years old from seed[].
Best not grown close to buildings since the plant can harbour dry-wood termites which might damage the wood in the building[].
Plants are usually dioecious[], both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - eaten raw or made into jams, jellies, juice, added to soups etc[]. The reddish-purple, or occasionally off-white, fruit is juicy and sub-acid with a musky flavour[]. Mellow, sweet and succulent, the delicious fruits are very popular for eating from the hand[]. The fruit is 15 - 20mm in diameter[].

Medicinal

An astringent juice obtained from the plant is known as 'Jamaica kino'. It is used to treat diarrhoea and dysentery[].

A decoction of the bark is used to treat intestinal disorders[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Plants are very tolerant of pruning and can be grown as a hedge[, ]. A valuable hedge and windbreak plant for coastal areas[].
The tree is a natural pioneer within its native range and, especially with its various uses, would make a very good candidate as a pioneer plant for restoring coastal woodlands and establishing woodland gardens[].

Other Uses

A red astringent substance called W. Indian kino (a tannin?[]) is extracted from the bark and used in tanning and dyeing[].
A dye is obtained from the peel of the fruit[].

The heartwood is reddish-brown, occasionally with nearly black linear markings, which give it a pleasing effect in cabinet work; the fairly thick band of sapwood is a very light red. The wood is very close-grained, very hard, strong and very heavy, but very susceptible to attack by dry-wood termites. It takes an excellent polish. When available in sufficient sizes, it is highly valued for cabinet work, furniture making and wood carving[, , , ].
A popular fuel wood[].

Propagation

Seed - sow in containers at 20°c[].
Greenwood cuttings
Air layering.

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