Grewia pubescens is very close to Grewia mollis Juss., and has sometimes been treated as a synonym of that species.

Common Name:

General Information

Grewia pubescens is a shrub or a small tree, sometimes with stems that become more or less scandent; it can grow up to 9 metres long with a stem from 5 - 15cm in diameter[, ].
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 Central African Republic, southern Sudan and Uganda, south to Angola and DR Congo

Habitat

Secondary forest; fallow land, gallery forest; at elevations from 1,050 - 1,250 metres[, ].

Properties

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

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[, ]. The fruit is a 2 - 4 lobed drupe, each lobe around 6 - 7mm long and 5 - 6mm wide[].

The ashes of the burnt roots are used as a salt-like flavouring in foods[].

Medicinal

The leaves are febrifuge and an infusion is used in the treatment of fevers[].
Applied topically, the leaves or the mucilage extracted from them, are used to treat wounds, cuts, sores and ulcers[].
The leaf-sap is antidote and is used to treat venomous stings, bites, etc[]

An infusion of the bark is used in the treatment of diarrhoea and dysentery[].
Applied topically, the bark, or the mucilage extracted from it, is used to treat wounds, cuts and sores[].

The root is used topically to treat smallpox pustules[].

Other Uses

A fibre obtained from the bark is used to make cordage[, ].
The stems are beaten, washed and then dried to make a sponge-like material that is used for washing the body[].

The wood is light in weight, strong and elastic. It is used for spears[]

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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