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The Grandleaf Seagrape (Coccoloba pubescens, or C. grandifolia) is a tree, which is also called "Eve's Umbrella". It is native to the coastal regions of the Caribbean region, and is primarily noteworthy for the size of its orbicular leaves, which are typically around twenty inches in diameter but can be as great as 3'3" (one meter) in diameter. These however are not the largest leaves in the genus Coccoloba. A species still undescribed was collected in the Jamari National Forest of Rondônia State, Brazil in 1993. This somewhat rounded rhomboidal leaf, identified as Coccoloba by Professor Carlos Franciscon, Herbarium Curator for the National Institute for Amazonian Research (INPA) in Manaus, is on display at the INPA museum and measures 6' 7" (two meters) in length and 4' 4" (1.32 meters) wide; the largest hardwood (arboreal dicot) leaf known up to the present time. It remains undescribed for lack of fertile material.
[edit] References
- Rohwer, J.G. (New York: Sterling, 2002). Tropical plants of the world
- Franciscon, C. ( July 22, 2005). Personal communication.
