Grewia flavescens
Juss.
Donkey berry, Rough leaf raisin, Sandpaper raisin
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(c) Reuben Heydenrych, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Reuben Heydenrych
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(c) Tony Benn, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Tony Benn
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Tony Benn, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Tony Benn
Summary
Source: WikipediaGrewia flavescens, called rough-leaved raisin, sandpaper raisin, and donkey berry (a name it shares with Grewia bicolor), is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae, native to sub‑Saharan Africa, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and India. It is considered to be an underutilized crop, both for its fruit and its use for livestock forage. Caterpillars of Anaphe reticulata have been found to feed on the foliage.
Description
A small tree which loses its leaves during the year. It can grow 3-5 m tall. The crown is rounded. It can be a woody climber. It sometimes forms thickets. The stems are angular and form loops. Young branches are hairy. The leaves are oval and 10 cm long by 5 cm wide. There are coarse teeth along the edge and both sides of the leaves are hairy. The tips are pointed. The flowers are bright orange-yellow and star shaped with 5 slender gold petals. They occur in small bunches in the axils of leaves. The fruit are round and 12 mm across. The have slight lobes. They have very small hairs. They become yellow to red. They occur in groups of 4. They are edible.
Edible Uses
The ripe fruit are eaten raw or dried; the dry skin is rubbed off before eating the flesh. The fruit can be stored once dried and are added to porridge in place of sugar. The leaves are also edible.
Traditional Uses
The ripe fruit are eaten raw or dried. They can be stored once dried. The dry skin is rubbed off before eating the flesh. The fruit are also used for making an alcoholic drink. The fruit is edible. They are added to porridge in place of sugar.
Medicinal Uses
The fruit are used for making an alcoholic drink.
Distribution
A tropical plant. They grow is dry sands. It grows in the Sahel. They suit hot valley areas. They need a rainfall of more than 300 mm each year. It grows in open woodland often along dry stream beds. It grows between 100-1,525 m above sea level. It is tolerant of drought. It can grow in arid places. It is often on termite mounds. It grows in the lowlands and the highlands. In Tanzania it grows between 800-1,200 m above sea level.
Where It Grows
Africa, Angola, Arabia, Asia, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Chad, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Middle East, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Sahel, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Africa, Southern Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe,
Cultivation
Plants can be grown from seeds. The seeds do not germinate easily. They can take 3 months to germinate.
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.
Other Uses
The wood is hard. It is used for building poles, weaving local doors, withies and walking sticks. The wood is used for fuel.
Production
The fruit are collected from April to June.
Other Information
They are a major food of the Bushmen. The fruit have a pleasant taste.
Notes
There are about 200 Grewia species. They are mostly tropical. The fruit of most may be edible. These were in the Sparrmanniaceae and the Tiliaceae.
Nutrition
| Part | Moisture | kJ | kcal | Protein | Vit A | Vit C | Iron | Zinc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fruit | 18.2 | 589 | 141 | 7 | — | — | 9.2 | 0.8 |
| Flowers | 76.2 | 358 | 86 | 0.8 | — | — | — | — |
Synonyms
Also Known As
Amrurjii, Daiyta-arba, Dhabi-qurquraale, Elamuruke, Farangan, Goursoumhi, Guedeb, Gugur, Kabayna, Kakose, Kelehi, Laghojane, Lambonjane, Likloko, Mizwilaminzhi, Mkolelupini, Mkozepini, Mokgomphatha, Mopharatshena, Motsotsojana, Mpelemense, Mubhununu, Mubhubhunu, Mufhughuha, Mujonjoma, Muku, Mumbudzi, Mumhudzingwa, Muparatsheni, Muparafeni, Muundu, Nyamuzwila, Odaachu, Oleing'oni, Olmangulai, Omushe, Parhenkal, Phetara, Phunzunyeke, Rupundu, Sountago, Skurwerosyntjie, Tobongo, Ubhunzu, Ubhuxu, Umklampunzi, Umnaba, Umtewa
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