Common Name: Bhimal

General Information

Grewia optiva is a deciduous or semidecidous shrub or small tree with a spreading crown; it usually grows arounf 9 - 12 metres tall, though can reach 15 metres. The bole can be 3 - 4 metres tall and around 100cm in diameter[].
The plant yields an edible fruit, a fibre and a useful timber, and is usually gathered from the wild though it is sometimes cultivated in the Himalayas[, ]. It is often grown as a hedge plant along roadsides in the Himalayas[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

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Range

E. Asia - Himalayas in Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bhutan

Habitat

Foothills of the N.W. Himalayas at elevations up to 1,800 metres[]. Open, rocky slopes in Nepal[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	10.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Grewia optiva is found mainly in the subtropical zone of northern India where summers are hot and dry and winters are mild with temperatures rarely falling lower than -2°c[]. Light frosts can be common in the autumn and winter. Rainfall is monsoonal, falling mainly at the end of the hot season, snow can occur at higher elevations[].
Succeeds in most soils, though it prefers a moist, sandy loam[, ].
Most fruit is produced on the previous year's growth[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[].. A pleasant acid taste[, , ]. The purple-black, globose, fleshy fruit is around 8mm in diameter[, ].

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 outer bark and fruit, when soaked in water, yield a gelatinous material which after drying, is used to make tablets that are used as aphrodisiac[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree is often grown in agroforestry in the Himalayas, where it is used in hedges, as a boundary tree and in intercropping[].

Other Uses

A fibre is obtained from the bark, it is used in paper and rope making but is not very durable[, ]. It makes a poor quality rope[]. The fibres are 1 - 1.6mm long[].

The green bark is used for cleaning hair[, ].

When used with a mordant, the leaves yield a dye that is a fine bright clean shade of dark fawn, approaching to yellow[].

The branches are used for making baskets[].

The wood has a small amount of reddish-brown heartwood and a white sapwood. It is fine-grained, tough, strong and elastic, but with a very unpleasant odour when first cut. It is used for making oar shafts, tool handles, poles etc[, , , ].
Due to the unpleasant smell, the wood is only used for fuel when better fuels are not available[].

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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