Identifying Characteristics
| Size/Form: | Seagrapes have unusually thick trunks that branch out close to the ground. |
| Bark: | The thick, smooth bark has patches of white, gray, and light brown. When cut, the bark exudes an astringent red sap. |
| Twigs: | Twigs are thick, smooth, and stout. Color is orange to brown. |
| Leaves: | The leaves are shiny, leathery, and nearly circular. The leaf arrangement is alternate. The leaves are about 8" in diameter with a large, reddish center vein. The leaves may be a shade of orange when young, green when mature and rust color when older, right before they drop. One distinctive family characteristic is the collar-like sheath called an "ochrea" that is formed around the stem just above each attachment to a petiole. |
| Flowers: | The flowers, which are small and greenish-white, begin to appear in clusters when the plant is 6 to 8 years old. Male and female flowers appear on separate trees. |
| Fruit: | The fruits are spherical and slightly smaller than a table grape. They hang in bunches and mature from green to a vibrant purple. |
Similar Trees on the Florida 4-H Forest Ecology Contest List:
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