Grewia venusta

Family: Malvaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows to 6 m high. The trunk is 30 cm across. The bark is rough and black. The leaves are 5-10 cm long by 2-5 cm wide. The leaves vary is shape and hairiness. There are teeth along the edge. The flowers are bright yellow. They are star shaped. They occur in clusters on short stalks in the axils of leaves. The fruit are black when ripe. They are almost round and 7-8 mm across.

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. It grows in savannah regions.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo, West Africa

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten. The stems are used in soup. The bark is processed and used in association with fried beans.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves, seeds, stems, bark

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Dargajii, Hwer-za, Ogbolo, Roronchi, Yoal-rataaga

Synonyms

Grewia mollis (part);