179 Species of Genus Coccoloba

Coccoloba: A Deep Dive with Ferb Vu

The world of botany is a vast and fascinating one, filled with an incredible diversity of plant life. As a plant enthusiast, I, Ferb Vu, am always eager to explore new genera and learn about their unique characteristics. One genus that has particularly captured my attention is Coccoloba. This diverse group of plants, belonging to the Polygonaceae family, boasts a rich variety of species with intriguing features and ecological significance.

What is Coccoloba?

Coccoloba is a genus of flowering plants native to the tropical regions of the Americas, including the Caribbean, South America, and Central America. The genus encompasses a wide array of growth habits, including trees, shrubs, and lianas. They are typically characterized by their alternate leaves, which can vary significantly in size and shape depending on the species and the age of the plant. Some species, like Coccoloba gigantifolia, are renowned for having some of the largest leaves in the plant kingdom!

One of the most striking features of many Coccoloba species is their fruit. These often resemble grapes and can range in color from white and green to red and purple. These fruits are not only visually appealing but also play a crucial role in the ecosystem, serving as a food source for various animals, including birds and mammals.

A Diverse Genus: Coccoloba Species

The genus Coccoloba is incredibly diverse, with an estimated 179 species. This extensive list includes a variety of plants, each with its unique features and adaptations:

1. Coccoloba acapulcensis Standl.
2. Coccoloba acrostichoides Cham.
3. Coccoloba acuminata Kunth
4. Coccoloba acuna R.A.Howard
5. Coccoloba alainii Acev.-Rodr.
6. Coccoloba albicans Ekman
7. Coccoloba alnifolia Casar.
8. Coccoloba arborescens (Vell.) R.A.Howard
9. Coccoloba argentinensis Speg.
10. Coccoloba armata C.Wright ex Griseb.
11. Coccoloba ascendens Duss ex Lindau
12. Coccoloba baracoensis O.C.Schmidt
13. Coccoloba barbadensis Jacq.
14. Coccoloba barkeri Ekman & O.C.Schmidt
15. Coccoloba belizensis Standl.
16. Coccoloba benitensis Britton
17. Coccoloba berazainiae I.Castañeda
18. Coccoloba boxii Sandwith
19. Coccoloba brasiliensis Nees & Mart.
20. Coccoloba buchii O.C.Schmidt
21. Coccoloba bullata R.A.Howard
22. Coccoloba caesia Ekman ex O.C.Schmidt
23. Coccoloba caracasana Meisn.
24. Coccoloba caravellae Sastre & Fiard
25. Coccoloba ceibensis O.C.Schmidt
26. Coccoloba cereifera Schwacke
27. Coccoloba charitostachya Standl.
28. Coccoloba chiapensis Standl.
29. Coccoloba cholutecensis R.A.Howard
30. Coccoloba clementis R.A.Howard
31. Coccoloba colombiana R.A.Howard
32. Coccoloba conduplicata Maguire
33. Coccoloba cordata Cham.
34. Coccoloba coriacea A.Rich.
35. Coccoloba coronata Jacq.
36. Coccoloba costata C.Wright
37. Coccoloba cowellii Britton
38. Coccoloba cozumelensis Hemsl.
39. Coccoloba cristalensis (Alain) I.Castañeda
40. Coccoloba cruegeri Lindau
41. Coccoloba cujabensis Wedd.
42. Coccoloba darienensis R.A.Howard
43. Coccoloba declinata (Vell.) Mart.
44. Coccoloba densifrons Mart. ex Meisn.
45. Coccoloba diversifolia Jacq.
46. Coccoloba dussii Lindau
47. Coccoloba efigeniana J.J.Ortiz-Diaz & J.J.Ancona
48. Coccoloba escuintlensis Lundell
49. Coccoloba excelsa Benth.
50. Coccoloba fallax Lindau
51. Coccoloba fastigiata Meisn.
52. Coccoloba fawcettii O.C.Schmidt
53. Coccoloba filipes Standl.
54. Coccoloba flavescens Jacq.
55. Coccoloba floresii Ortiz-Díaz & Arnelas
56. Coccoloba floribunda (Benth.) Lindau
57. Coccoloba fuertesii Urb.
58. Coccoloba gardneri Meisn.
59. Coccoloba geniculata Lindau
60. Coccoloba gentryi R.A.Howard
61. Coccoloba gigantifolia E.Melo, C.A.Cid Ferreira & Gribel
62. Coccoloba glaziovii Lindau
63. Coccoloba goldmanii Standl.
64. Coccoloba gracilis Kunth
65. Coccoloba grandiflora Lindau
66. Coccoloba guanacastensis W.C.Burger
67. Coccoloba guaranitica Hassl.
68. Coccoloba gymnorrhachis Sandwith
69. Coccoloba hirtella Lundell
70. Coccoloba hondurensis Lundell
71. Coccoloba hotteana O.C.Schmidt
72. Coccoloba howardii Castañeda
73. Coccoloba humboldtii Meisn.
74. Coccoloba × hybrida I.Castañeda
75. Coccoloba ibarrae J.J.Ancona & J.J.Ortiz-Diaz
76. Coccoloba incrassata Urb.
77. Coccoloba × jamaicensis Lindau
78. Coccoloba jimenezii Alain
79. Coccoloba johnstonii R.A.Howard
80. Coccoloba jurgensenii Lindau
81. Coccoloba krugii Lindau
82. Coccoloba laevis Casar.
83. Coccoloba lanceolata Lindau
84. Coccoloba lapathifolia Standl.
85. Coccoloba lasseri Lundell
86. Coccoloba latifolia Poir.
87. Coccoloba lehmannii Lindau ex Hieron.
88. Coccoloba leoganensis Jacq.
89. Coccoloba leonardii R.A.Howard
90. Coccoloba liebmannii Lindau
91. Coccoloba lindaviana R.A.Howard
92. Coccoloba lindeniana (Benth.) Lindau
93. Coccoloba liportizii Gómez-Laur. & N.Zamora
94. Coccoloba llewelynii R.A.Howard
95. Coccoloba longifolia Fisch. ex Lindau
96. Coccoloba longipes S.Moore
97. Coccoloba lucidula Benth.
98. Coccoloba × lundellii Standl.
99. Coccoloba manzinellensis Beurl.
100. Coccoloba meissneriana (Britton) K.Schum.
101. Coccoloba microphylla Griseb.
102. Coccoloba microstachya Willd.
103. Coccoloba mollis Casar.
104. Coccoloba montana Standl.
105. Coccoloba mosenii Lindau
106. Coccoloba munizii Borhidi
107. Coccoloba nervosa Alain
108. Coccoloba nicaraguensis Standl. & L.O.Williams
109. Coccoloba nigrescens Lindau
110. Coccoloba nipensis Urb.
111. Coccoloba nitida Kunth
112. Coccoloba nodosa Lindau
113. Coccoloba northropiae Britton
114. Coccoloba nutans Kunth
115. Coccoloba obovata Kunth
116. Coccoloba obtusifolia Jacq.
117. Coccoloba ochreolata Wedd.
118. Coccoloba oligantha Alain
119. Coccoloba orinocana R.A.Howard
120. Coccoloba ortizii R.A.Howard
121. Coccoloba ovata Benth.
122. Coccoloba padiformis Meisn.
123. Coccoloba pallida C.Wright ex Griseb.
124. Coccoloba paraensis Meisn.
125. Coccoloba paraguariensis Lindau
126. Coccoloba pauciflora Urb.
127. Coccoloba peltata Schott
128. Coccoloba persicaria Wedd.
129. Coccoloba peruviana Lindau
130. Coccoloba picardae Urb.
131. Coccoloba plantaginea Wedd.
132. Coccoloba plumieri Griseb.
133. Coccoloba porphyrostachys Gómez-Laur.
134. Coccoloba portuguesana R.A.Howard
135. Coccoloba praecox C.Wright ex Lindau
136. Coccoloba proctorii R.A.Howard
137. Coccoloba pubescens L.
138. Coccoloba pyrifolia Desf.
139. Coccoloba ramosissima Wedd.
140. Coccoloba reflexa Lindau
141. Coccoloba reflexiflora Standl.
142. Coccoloba retirensis R.A.Howard
143. Coccoloba retusa Griseb.
144. Coccoloba rigida Meisn.
145. Coccoloba rosea Meisn.
146. Coccoloba rufescens C.Wright
147. Coccoloba rugosa Desf.
148. Coccoloba ruiziana Lindau
149. Coccoloba salicifolia Wedd.
150. Coccoloba samanensis O.C.Schmidt
151. Coccoloba savannarum Standl.
152. Coccoloba scandens Casar.
153. Coccoloba shaferi Britton
154. Coccoloba sintenisii Urb.
155. Coccoloba spicata Lundell
156. Coccoloba spinescens Morong
157. Coccoloba steinbachii R.A.Howard
158. Coccoloba sticticaulis Wedd.
159. Coccoloba striata Benth.
160. Coccoloba subcordata (Bertero ex DC.) Lindau
161. Coccoloba swartzii Meisn.
162. Coccoloba taylorii Urb.
163. Coccoloba tenuiflora Lindau
164. Coccoloba tenuifolia L.
165. Coccoloba tiliacea Lindau
166. Coccoloba toaensis Alain
167. Coccoloba troyana Urb.
168. Coccoloba tuerckheimii Donn.Sm.
169. Coccoloba tunii Ortiz-Díaz & Arnelas
170. Coccoloba uvifera (L.) L.
171. Coccoloba venosa L.
172. Coccoloba warmingii Meisn.
173. Coccoloba williamsii Standl.
174. Coccoloba wrightii Lindau
175. Coccoloba wurdackii R.A.Howard
176. Coccoloba yaracuyensis R.A.Howard
177. Coccoloba yaterensis I.Castañeda
178. Coccoloba zebra Griseb.
179. Coccoloba zuliana R.A.Howard

The Importance of Coccoloba

Coccoloba plays a significant role in both the natural environment and human society.

Ecological Importance:

• Food Source: The fruits of many Coccoloba species are a vital food source for a variety of animals, contributing to the biodiversity of their ecosystems.
• Coastal Protection: Species like Coccoloba uvifera help stabilize coastal dunes and protect against erosion, acting as a natural barrier against storms and rising sea levels.
• Habitat Creation: Coccoloba plants provide habitat and shelter for numerous animal species, from insects and birds to small mammals.

Economic and Cultural Importance:

• Ornamental Plants: Many Coccoloba species are cultivated for their ornamental value, adding beauty and interest to gardens and landscapes.
• Timber: Some species, like Coccoloba diversifolia, are valued for their timber, which is used in construction and carpentry.
• Medicinal Uses: Traditional medicine utilizes various parts of Coccoloba plants for their potential health benefits. For example, the bark and leaves of some species have been used to treat ailments like diarrhea and skin infections.
• Food and Beverages: The fruits of some species, particularly Coccoloba uvifera, are consumed fresh or used to make jams, jellies, and even wine.

Conservation of Coccoloba

While some Coccoloba species are relatively common, others face threats due to habitat loss, deforestation, and climate change. It’s essential to prioritize the conservation of these valuable plants to ensure their continued existence and the ecological services they provide. Efforts like habitat restoration, sustainable harvesting practices, and ex-situ conservation (like seed banks) are crucial for protecting these species for future generations.

Exploring the World of Coccoloba

My journey into the world of Coccoloba has been an enriching one. Learning about the diverse array of species, their ecological significance, and their cultural value has deepened my appreciation for the plant kingdom. I’m eager to continue exploring this fascinating genus and contribute to its conservation. Whether you’re a seasoned botanist or simply a plant enthusiast, I encourage you to delve into the world of Coccoloba and discover the wonders it holds.