Calambre–a, Chicory-grape
Coccoloba venosa

Family: Polygonaceae

What it is like

A small tree. It grows 10 m tall. It loses its leaves during the year. The crown is spreading and branches almost horizontal. The leaves are in 2 rows and drooping. They are oval. The fruit are white to pink and fleshy. They are 8 mm long and egg shaped. They have an edible lobed calyx around a shiny black seed.

There are between 120-200 Coccoloba species in tropical America.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in dry coastal regions.

Countries/locations it is found in

Antigua, Caribbean, Central America, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, French Guiana, Grenada, Guatemala, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, South America, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Virgin islands, West Indies

How it is used for food

The pulp of the fruit is eaten raw.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Calambrena, Carnero, Gateador, Guarapo, Iril, Papaturro

Synonyms

Coccoloba molinae Standl. & L.O.Williams; Coccoloba nivea Jacq.; Coccoloba punctata L.; Coccoloba viridis Lundell; Coccolobis venosa (L.) Britton; Guaiabara venosa House;