2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Sea grapes (Latin Coccoloba uvifera) - a small fruit tree from the Buckwheat family. Its second name is berry coccoloba.
Description
Sea grapes are miniature trees, which may well reach eight meters in height, however, as a rule, in most cases, it almost never exceeds two meters. The smooth bark of such trees is painted in pleasant yellowish shades, and the spectacular olive-green leaves are equipped with red veins (as the leaves age, they gradually turn into creamy tones) and boast a broad-oval or rounded-oval shape. All leaves are glossy, whole-edged and rather dense (almost leathery). In width they grow up to fifteen to twenty centimeters, and in length - up to ten to twelve centimeters. From above, the leaves can be either dark green or light green.
The flowers of sea grapes are very small and fragrant. They gather in long tassels that hang down and boast a pleasant creamy color.
The rounded fruits of this culture, reaching two centimeters in diameter, are covered with a slightly woody purple skin. And under this skin you can find a small layer of sweetish pulp with a surprisingly delicate nutmeg flavor. In the very center of each berry, one fairly large seed is comfortably located. All the fruits hang from the branches in the form of very colorful bunches, very similar to grapes, and the ripening berries gradually fall to the ground.
Where grows
The main habitat of sea grapes is the coastal area of the Caribbean Sea, as well as Florida and Bermuda.
Application
Sea grapes can be eaten fresh or made into delicious jelly. In addition, they make an excellent wine, which gradually turns into vinegar as it sours.
The calorie content of the fruits of sea grapes is relatively low and amounts to about 65 kcal for every 100 g of the product. These amazing berries, enriched with all kinds of minerals and vitamins, have a powerful tonic and restorative effect on the human body. With their help, you can quickly normalize blood pressure or increase muscle tone. They will also serve well for nervous or physical exhaustion, as well as for various ailments of the gastrointestinal tract, liver or biliary tract. And in a number of Central American and South American countries, such berries are considered an excellent sedative (calming), hemostatic and anti-inflammatory agent.
It should be noted that sea grapes are considered an excellent honey plant. And in the West Indies and Jamaica, its juice is actively used for dyeing and tanning leather.
Contraindications
Since sea grapes are very rich in sugars, it should not be consumed by people suffering from obesity and diabetics, and the high content of all kinds of organic acids can provoke complications in case of duodenal or stomach ulcers. Yes, and with hypertension, eating these fruits is also not recommended. In addition, allergic reactions are not excluded when using them.
Growing and caring
For sea grapes, a complete intolerance to frost is characteristic. At the same time, this culture is very tolerant to soil salinization - such a valuable property allows it to be planted along the sea coasts for landscaping purposes, as well as for the purpose of fixing sand on beaches.
Sea grapes are quite photophilous, but they are unlikely to appreciate direct sunlight. A temperature of twenty to twenty-four degrees is best for growing it, and when growing sea grapes in greenhouses in winter, it is quite permissible to maintain a temperature in the range of sixteen to eighteen degrees. And since this amazing plant is extremely partial to the high humidity of the air and soil, it does not hurt to spray it regularly.
Reproduction of sea grapes occurs by cuttings or seeds (that is, sexually). Recently, this culture is most often grown in greenhouses or indoors. True, in room conditions, it either does not bloom at all, or blooms extremely rarely - this is due to the lack of the required illumination in such an environment.
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