Grewia elastica

Family: Malvaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 8 m tall. It loses its leaves during the year. The young twigs are hairy. The leaf stalks are club shaped and hairy and 5-10 mm long. The leaf blade is 5-15 cm long and 4-8 cm wide. They have 5-7 ribs. They can have 3 small lobes. The flower are in groups of 2-4. They are yellow and 1.5 cm across. The fruit is fleshy and round and hairy. They turn black when ripe.

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

It is a subtropical plant. In Pakistan it grows between 1,000-3,000 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Himalayas, India, Myanmar, Northeastern India, Pakistan, SE Asia, Sikkim

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit is eaten.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

In NE India plants flower and fruit February to December. In Sikkim February to May.

Its other names

Local names

Bimla, Bong der so, Dhaman, Dhamni, Dieng-thap-ballieh, Kunsung, Man-bijal, Mirgi chara, Pharsia, Phuhura, Tada, Thusura

Synonyms

Grewia vestita Wall.; Grewia asiatica var. vestita Masters;