Grewia trichocarpa

Family: Malvaceae

What it is like

An erect evergreen shrub. It grows 2-6 m high. The bark is silver-grey. The leaves are thin and papery. The leaves are narrowly oval. They are 3-11 cm long by 1-5 cm wide. The flowers are yellow. There are several flowers in a group. The fruit is orange and can have 1 or 2 lobes. It is 5-7 mm long.

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. It grows in sandy soil. It grows between 600-2,150 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places. In Tanzania it grows in areas with a rainfall between 900-1,400 mm.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, Southern Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw. They are sweet.

The fruit are eaten especially by children.

Edible parts

Fruit, seeds

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

In Tanzania fruit are collected between April to June.

Its other names

Local names

Ahawteta-daiyta, Alenkuato, Dawaita, Ekaliye, Lenquata, Mu-renda, Opobo, Powo, Roboy, Sitetit

Synonyms

Grewia mollis Juss. var. trichocarpa (A. Rich.) Burret; Grewia nyanzae J. R. Drumm.; Grewia hypoglauca K. Schum.;