Grewia tiliifolia
Family: Malvaceae
What it is like
A shrub or small tree. It grows 5-8 m tall. They young parts are covered with star shaped hairy scales. The leaves are 7-20 cm long by 6-12 cm wide. They are oval with a pointed tip. The two halves of the leaf blade are unequal. The edge has teeth. They are hairy below. The base is rounded or heart shaped. There are 5-7 veins. The fruit are yellowish. They occur in large clusters of 10-12. The fruit is fleshy with a hard covering over the seed. The fruit has 3-4 lobes and is blackish. They are pea sized.
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 tropical plant. They are common in Western India. In southern China it grows in open woodland and grassland between 600-1,600 m above sea level. In Yunnan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Asia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, East Africa, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Thailand, Vietnam
How it is used for food
The tender leaves are eaten. The ripe fruit are eaten raw.
Edible parts
Fruit, leaves
How it is grown
In southern India plants flower and fruit February to June.
Its other names
Local names
Butale, Chadachi, Chadicha, Charachi, Dahi-bhat, Dalmon, Daman, Dhaman, Dhamana, Dhamasi, Dhamin, Dhamni, Dhamuro, Dhanuvriksha, Dhomoni, Ettatada, Jhujhana, Kakai, Kharmati, Khesla rodgei, Lumma, Pharsa, Pholsa, Pin-ta-yaw, Rodaga, Sadachi, Ta-yaw, Thadsal, Unnam, Unnu, Valukkaimaram