Rolled-leaf grewia
Grewia praecox

Family: Malvaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows to 4 m high. The bark is light grey and smooth but becomes brown and rough with age. The leaves are still half rolled at flowering time. Mature leaves are oblong and 5-6 cm long by 2-5 cm wide. Both surfaces are green and velvety. The edges are toothed irregularly. The flowers are white and 3.5 cm across. They have a faint sweet scent. The fruit are deeply 2-4 lobed. Each lobe is about 7 mm across. They become reddish when mature.

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 occur at low altitudes in dry types of woodland.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Botswana, East Africa, Kenya, Malawi, Southern Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Mkoma

Synonyms

Grewia congesta Weimarck;