Siti, Sitisiti
Grewia crenata

Family: Malvaceae

What it is like

A small tree. It grows 6-10 m high. It has narrow leafy growths near the leaf which fall off. These are 1.6 cm long. The young stems are hairy. The leaves are simple and alternate. The leaf blade is narrowly oval and 5-20 cm long. It can be rounded or heart shaped at the base. The leaf is slightly darker on the upper side. There can be some hairs. There are rounded teeth along the edge. The leaf stalk is 2-12 mm long. The flowers occur in groups or 3-6. There are many yellow stamens. The fruit is round and black. It has 2-4 lobes. The fruit are 4-6 mm across.

These were in the Sparrmanniaceae and the Tiliaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows from sea level up to 300 m altitude in Samoa.

Countries/locations it is found in

American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Niue, Pacific, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten especially by children.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Fauui, Mboko ni ngata, Nithe, Vauvau

Synonyms

Grewia mallococca L.f.; Grewia prunifolia A. Gray; Grewia tahitiensis Nadeaud; Mallococca crenata Forst.;