Grewia kakothamnos

Family: Malvaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It grows 4 m tall. It keeps growing from year to year. It flowers when it has no leaves. The leaves are green and can be slightly hairy on both surfaces. The leaves are 2-7 cm long by 2-5 cm wide. They are rounded at both ends. There are irregular rounded teeth along the edge. The flowers occur singly opposite the leaves. They are white to pale lilac. The fruit have 2-4 lobes. They are green when young and turn orange when ripe.

These were in the families Sparrmanniaceae and the Tiliaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows between 100-1,180 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, East Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw and also cooked by frying

It is a famine food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Demak, Mnangu

Synonyms

Grewia corallocarpa K. Schum.; Grewia tembensis var. kakothamnos (K. Schum.) Burret;