Common Name: Mallow Raisin

General Information

Grewia villosa is usually a deciduous, much-branched shrub growing from 1 - 4 metres tall, though it sometimes becomes more tree-like and up to 4.5 metres tall[, , ].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - drier areas from Mauritania to Egypt and Somalia, south to Namibia, Botswana and S. Africa; through Arabia to India.

Habitat

Acacia-Terminalia-Combretum woodland in rocky, sandy and limestone areas; arid hills; Acacia bush or woodland; mixed Commiphora-Terminalia bushland; sandy to clayey-sandy depressions, often gravelly or on cuirass; scree; elevations to 1,800 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	3.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of drier areas in the tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 1,200 metres. In Tanzania it grows in areas where the mean annual rainfall is in the range 900 - 1,200mm[]. The plant is tolerant of very high temperatures and a mean annual rainfall in the range 200 - 800mm[].
Thrives in black-cotton soil and in sedimentary soils[]. Grows wild in stony and rocky, ferruginous soils[]. Succeeds in land subject to seasonal inundation[].
A very slow-growing plant[].
The flowers are usually dioecious, though they are occasionally bisexual. Therefore, generally, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit is required[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[, ]. A sweet-tasting pulp[]. Delicious[]. It can be eaten fresh or dried for later use[]. The seeds are usually discarded[]. The red-brown fruit is about 10mm in diameter, containing 1 - 2 hard seeds[].
In Namibia the fruits yield very little pulp. The brittle fruit shell of dry fruits is discarded and the seeds are pounded before consumption[].

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 roots are emetic. They are used to treat diarrhoea and body pains[, , , , ].

The juice of the fresh bark is used in the treatment of urinary troubles, irritation in the bladder and gonorrhoea[, ].
The bark is used in the treatment of wounds, syphilis and smallpox[, ].

Other Uses

A good quality fibre is obtained from the inner bark. Used for making ropes[, ].

An extract from the bark is used for gluing tobacco leaves[].

The small stems are used for walking sticks, spearshafts, bows and for making granaries[, , ].

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.

Add a Comment:

If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.

Name:

Email(Private):

Message:

Captcha: what is half of 100?