Coccoloba is a genus of approximately 177 species of flowering plants in the family Polygonaceae (order Caryophyllales), native to the Neotropics. The genus ranges across tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, from South America through the Caribbean, Central America, and Mexico, with two species reaching Florida.
Members of the genus are shrubs, trees, and lianas, most of them evergreen. The leaves are alternate and often notably large — in C. gigantifolia, they can reach up to 2.5 metres (8 feet) in length, among the largest of any broad-leaved plant. Juvenile plants frequently produce leaves that differ in size and shape from those of mature individuals. Flowers are borne in spikes, and the fruit is a three-angled achene enclosed by a fleshy, often brightly coloured perianth that is edible in some species, though frequently astringent.
The most widely known member is Coccoloba uvifera, the seagrape, a coastal tree of the Caribbean and Florida that is commonly cultivated for its edible fruit; the genus name is sometimes used informally to refer to this species alone. The genus also includes C. cereifera, a critically narrow endemic confined to roughly 26 square kilometres on a single peak near Serra do Cipó National Park in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. The genus was described by Patrick Browne in 1756 in his Civil and Natural History of Jamaica.
Distribution
Coccoloba is native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, encompassing South America, the Caribbean, Central America, and Mexico. Two species extend into the southeastern United States, reaching Florida.
Ecology
Coccoloba cereifera is a notable example of extreme endemism in the genus, being restricted to an area of approximately 26 km² on a single low peak near Serra do Cipó National Park in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. The broad leaf sizes and liana habit of many species reflect adaptation to humid, shaded understorey environments across Neotropical forests and coastal habitats.
Cultivation
One species, Coccoloba uvifera (seagrape), is widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical gardens and coastal landscapes for its ornamental foliage and edible grape-like fruit clusters. It tolerates salt spray and sandy soils, making it a common choice for seaside plantings.
Cultural Uses
Coccoloba uvifera fruit is consumed fresh and used to make jellies and beverages across the Caribbean. The genus name is sometimes used colloquially to refer exclusively to this seagrape species.
