Mountain grewia, Grey grewia, Silver raisin
Grewia monticola

Family: Malvaceae

What it is like

A small tree which loses its leaves during the year. It grows up to 6 m tall. The branches are spreading and weeping. The young flexible branches are covered with reddish hairs. The leaves are 2.5-10 cm long and 5 cm wide. The leaves are oval. The base is often unequal-sided. They have dense white hairs. The edges of the leaves have irregular teeth. The flowers are on long stalks in the axils of leaves. They are yellow or orange and star like. They are 0.8-1.3 cm across. The fruit are round and with 2 lobes. The fruit is yellow when ripe. It is covered with bristly hairs. It is edible.

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 can withstand frost and drought. It grows at a wide range of altitudes. It grows on a range of soils. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall below 1,000 mm. It grows between 20-1,980 m above sea level. In Zimbabwe it grows between 580-1,530 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Botswana, East Africa, Eswatini, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw when ripe. They are also used in porridge. They are also sundried. The fruit are used for alcoholic drinks.

The fruit are popular.

Edible parts

Berries, fruit, leaves - tea

How it is grown

Plants are easily raised from seed. Seeds should be collected from ripe fruit off the tree. The pulp is removed and the seeds are dried in the shade. Seedlings are transplanted at the 4 leaf stage but care must be taken of the taproot.

Trees grow quickly.

Its other names

Local names

Asegaai wood, Bakwani, Ibusu, Ibuzu, Mapasassoco, Mkelekele, Mkoma, Mokwani, Mubura, Muguramhanda, Munjiri, Mupimbiri, Murabva, Murapfa, Mutewa, Mutongoro, Muwana, Muwhana, Mwingili, Ngiri, Nsihani, Sehana, Silver raisin, T'a:dza, Umhlamounze, Umhlampunzi, Umpumpulwane, Umsipune, Untewa, Untogola, Vaalrosyntjiebos

Synonyms

Grewia cordata N.E. Br.; Grewia obliqua Weim.;