Grewia asiatica L.

Shrub

Flowering: November-August. Fruiting: January-September

Medium sized trees, ca. 8 m tall; stem with greyish-white to brown bark, young shoots stellate tomentose. Leaves simple, alternate, spiral; stipules ca. 1-1.3 cm long, narrowly oblique-lanceolate or falcate, petioles ca. 1.8 cm long; lamina ca. 5-19 x 4-15 cm long, broadly ovate or suborbicular, obliquely cordate or rounded at base, acute or acuminate at apex, crenate, scabrous above, tomentose beneath; secondary nerves 5-7 pairs. Flowers in axillary, umbellate cymes; peduncles ca. 4 cm long; buds ca. 6-11 x 4-5 mm, oblong-obovoid, ribbed, tomentose; pedicels ca. 1 cm long; sepals ca. 6-12 x 2-3 mm, oblong-lanceolate or oblanceolate, tomentose; petals ca. 3-7 x 1.5-3 mm, yellow, oblong-obovate or linear-oblong, obtuse; glands ca. 1 x 0.7 mm, obovoid; stamens numerous; filaments ca. 4-6 mm long; ovary ca. 1.5-2.5 x 1-1.5 mm, ovoid, villous; stigma 4-lobed. Drupes ca. 7-12 mm across, red or purple, subglobose, obscurely lobed, pilose.

Notes: Hilly areas as well as cultivated

Cultivated

Common in deciduous and semievergreen forests.

The flavor is like grapes. It is also used in making jams, pies, squashes and chutneys. The stems and the bark can be used to make ropes, baskets and are harvested for fuel. The bark is used as a soap substitute.

The fruits are claimed to be beneficial for heart, blood and liver disorders, anorexia, indigestion, thirst, toxemia, stomatitis, hiccough, asthma, spermatorrhoea, fevers and diarrhea and are used for treating throat, tuberculosis and sexual debility troubles. The root bark is used for the treatment of rheumatism and urinary tract problems, while the stem bark is used in sugar refining. The leaves are applied to the skin for wounds and cuts and to relieve irritation and painful rashes. They are thought to possess an antibiotic effected and are also used as cattle fodder.