Common Name:

General Information

Grewia carpinifolia is a straggling or climbing shrub with stems 2.4 - 5 metres long, exceptionally to 20 metre, and 25 - 100mm in diameter. The plant scrambles over surrounding shrubs; the stems when old becoming deeply cleft into 3 - 4 laterally flattened lobes, which may separate as the centre rots[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

West tropical Africa - Sierra Leone to Cameroon and DR Congo, south to Angola

Habitat

Secondary growth in moist or dry semi-deciduous forest; in thickets on coastal plains; gallery forest; fallow areas in forest; farmbush; on shallow soil, rocky outcrops; deciduous rain-forest[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Climber
Height	4.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

Fruit[, ].

Young leaves - cooked in soups[].

The flowers are eaten as sweetmeats[].

Medicinal

Grewia species are valued in many cultures for their medicinal virtues. The main medicinal action appears to come from the mucilage that is found in the leaves, stems and roots, which has been shown to have soothing and healing properties. Taken internally it is often used as a remedy for diarrhoea and dysentery, for example, whilst externally it is applied to wounds, cuts, ulcers, irritations etc. The plant can be taken as a simple infusion or decoction, or it can be applied topically as a poultice of the plant, or the mucilage can be extracted from the plant, if required, by maceration and then decoction.

The plant (part not specified) is considered to be generally healing and pain relieving. It is used in the treatment of digestive problems[, ].
The plant (?root) is used in herbal mixtures as an aphrodisiac[].

The leaves are used in the treatment of itching, venereal diseases, small-pox, chicken-pox, measles, cutaneous, subcutaneous and parasitic infections[]

The roots and the shoots are abortifacients and ecbolics[] They are used in treating problems connected to the menstrual cycle[, ].

The bark is used in the treatment of dropsy, swellings, oedema, gout[].

The plant has been reported to have antiparasitic and antioxidant activities. It has also been shown that an ethanolic extract of the leaves may increase muscle strength, and may also possess CNS depressing activity[]

Other Uses

A fibre used for cordage is obtained from the bark[].

The split or whle stems can be used for making baskets[].

The plant is used to wash the hair in order to prevent and remove lice[].

The seeds are used as beads in necklaces etc[, ].

The wood is used for fuel[].

Propagation

Seed - we have no specific information for this species but seed of this genus is generally best sown as soon as it is ripe. Stored seed has a hard seedcoat and may benefit from scarification before sowing in order to speed up and improve germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!), allowing the mix to cool somewhat and then leaving it in a warm place to soak for 12 - 24 hours. Sow the seeds in situ or in a nursery seedbed or trays - do not allow the compost to become dry. Germination and early growth are usually quite quick.
Cuttings - best taken with a heel.

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