Danglin
Grewia multiflora

Family: Malvaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 1-2 m tall. The branches are slender and sparsely covered with soft hairs when young. The leaves are oblong and the base is bluntly rounded with 3 veins and rounded toothed edges. The leaves are 6-13.5 cm long by 4.5-11 cm wide. They are dull green above and paler underneath. They have a leaf like appendage at the base of the leaf stem which is without hairs. The flowers are yellowish green. The flowers with stamens are about 1 cm long. They occur in clusters in the axils of leaves. The fruit are oval and hairless when old. They have 1-4 lobes and are 0.8-1.3 cm across. They are purplish black and the stones have one seed.

There are about 200 Grewia species. They are mostly tropical. The fruit of most may be edible. These were in the Sparrmanniaceae and the Tiliaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. They grow naturally in coastal monsoon vine-forest. They are common in areas of shrub in hill country throughout the Philippines. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, China, Fiji, Himalayas, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pacific, Pakistan, Philippines, SE Asia

How it is used for food

The young leaves are cooked and eaten. They can be dried and used as a tea substitute. The ripe fruit are eaten.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed.

In north India plants flower and fruit August to January.

Its other names

Local names

Bhansuli

Synonyms

Grewia didyma Roxb. ex G. Don; Grewia glabra Blume; Grewia guazumifolia Juss.; Grewia oblongifolia Blume;