Zambezi raisin, Shaggy grewia
Grewia schinzii

Family: Malvaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. They grow to 5 m tall. The crown is rounded. There are many branches growing from the base. The young branches are covered with red hairs. The leaves are large. They are 5-14 cm long and 2.5-9 cm wide. The base is heart-shaped or notched. There are irregular teeth along the edge. The leaves are green and covered with short, star-shaped hairs. The flowers have round yellow petals. Flowers occur as 2-3 together on red hairy stalks in the axils of leaves. The fruit is round and deeply two lobed. They are 7 mm wide. They are hairy and yellow. Fruit are 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 grows in woodland often near rivers. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall between 150-900 mm. It grows between 945-1,000 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Botswana, Central Africa, East Africa, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten. They are somewhat dry and bitter. They are also used for drinks.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Notu grewia, Omushe, Shaggy raisin

Synonyms

Grewia velutinissima Dunkley;