There has been great confusion over this name.
We are following the treatment of R.C.K. Chung in 'Revision of Grewia (Malvaceae-Grewioideae) in Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo'[] which accepts Grewia polygama as distinct from Grewia hirsuta and limits its range to the Indian subcontinent and Myanmar to Malaysia

Common Name:

General Information

Grewia polygama is a moderate sized, much-branched, deciduous tree that can reach 30 metres tall. The straight bole can be 60cm in diameter[, ]. Another report describes it as a small tree up to 5 metres tall with a trunk around 10cm in diameter[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine, food and source of wood. The leaves are traded locally for their medicinal benefits and the wood is also sometimes traded[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Peninsular Malaysia

Habitat

Dry country in Sri Lanka[]. Limestone forests[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	5.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

Fruit

Medicinal

The leaves are soaked in water overnight, or maybe hot water is poured over them, and the liquid allowed to become cold. It forms a somewhat mucilaginous liquid and is said to be very efficacious as a remedy for diarrhoea and dysentery. I understand that in some parts of the North it is quite an article of trade, not only in North Queensland but in the Northern Territory and right over to the North-West of Western Australia[].

The unripe fruit is astringent and can be used in the treatment of diarrhoea and dysentery[].

The root is used in the treatment of diarrhoea and dysentery[].
The dried and powdered root is mixed into a paste and used as a dressing for wounds. It forms a hard surface over the area, acting as a plaster and protecting the damaged surface[].

Other Uses

A good quality fibre used for making rope can be obtained from the bark[]

The heartwood is pale brown, becoming grey-brown upon exposure; it is not well defined from the paler coloured sapwood. The texture is fine and even; the grain is straight or interlocked. The wood is moderately hard to hard, heavy. It is suitable for light to medium purposes under cover; these uses include veneer and plywood, tool handles, general utility furniture, flooring, cladding, wooden pallets, mouldings and possibly sport equipments[, ].

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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