Seagrape

This seagrape is commonly found on St. John’s sheltered beaches, growing at the edge of the sand and also on windy exposed beaches and low hillsides. The seagrape on the sheltered beach can grow into a tall tree (30 feet high). It can also adapt to windy conditions by growing as a low lying bush. The female tree grows grape like clusters of fruit which turn purple when they are ripe. They can be eaten plain or made into preserves or wine. You can write on the leaves with a sharp stick or pointed object. This characteristic led them to be used as playing cards by early setters to the islands