General Information

COMMON NAMES: Seagrape, Platterleaf, Sea-grape, Jamaican Kino; German Meertraube TRADITIONAL NAMES: Venevene (RR MG PL TS TW), Menemene (MK AK), Venevene / Vine (MH) GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION: NATIVE C.Amererica - Caribbean.; EXOTIC widespread, usualy not naturalised COOK ISLANDS STATUS: Introduced - Recent (between 1900 and 1930), Not naturalised; S.Group - occasional, N.Group - uncommon; Land, coastal; very resistant to saltwater SIGNIFICANCE LIST: Orn, Food (Fruit 2+) KEY FEATURES: Small tree to 7m with rigid spreading branches. Leaves round to 20cmØ, leathery, glossy green, with yellow-green to red veins. Fruit clustered along a 20cm spike, each round, 2cmØ, ripening purple-red, with large seed. Flesh thin, sweet-acid flavour.

Cook Islands Distribution

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Southern Group: Present    Makatea: Present
RR	MG	AT	MK	MT	AK	PL	TK	MN
++++	++	-	+	-		P		-

Northern Group: Present
TN	MH	RK	PK	NS	SW
++	+	-	-	-	-

Coccoloba uvifera Linnaeus
TAXONOMY: PLANTAE; ANTHOPHYTA (=Angiospermae); MAGNOLIOPSIDA (=Dicotyledones); CARYOPHYLLIDAE; Polygonales; POLYGONACEAE

SIGNIFICANCE NOTES -
POSITIVE SIGNIFICANCE: Orn, Food (Fruit 2+). Comments: Fruit is popular with children (March - April). A decorative tree grown near the coast.

IDENTIFICATION: Small tree to 7m with spreading branches. BRANCHES zigzag, rigid; bark thin and smooth. LEAVES alternate, leathery, round to 20cmØ, glossy green, veins yellow-green to red, edge smooth. FLOWERS clusters along 20cm spike, fragrant; small, greenish-white. FRUITS round to pear-shaped, 2cmØ, ripen purplish-red, seed large, flesh thin, sweet-acidic. Grown from cuttings.

GENERAL NOTE: In Caribbean fruits used to make jellies, and an alcoholic beaverage. Roots, also astrigent, used to treat dysentry. Wood is hard and polishes well, and is used for cabinet work. Boiled wood provides a red dye.

Vouchers:
None Recorded.

References:
p.329 Neal - In Gardens of Hawaii
p.270 Royal Hort. Soc. Index of Garden Plants
p.467 Tropica
p.47 R Wilder - Flora of Rarotonga
p.413b Whistler - Ethnobotany of the Cook Islands

Data Update History (information):
zTX, zB02, zM02, zD02

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