# Grewia asiatica

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Species of flowering plant in the mallow family

Grewia asiatica Flowers and leaves Conservation status Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1] Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae Clade: Embryophytes Clade: Tracheophytes Clade: Spermatophytes Clade: Angiosperms Clade: Eudicots Clade: Rosids Order: Malvales Family: Malvaceae Genus: Grewia Species: G. asiatica Binomial name Grewia asiatica L. Synonyms[2] Grewia hainesiana Hole Grewia obtecta Wall. Grewia subinaequalis DC.

***Grewia asiatica***, commonly known as **phalsa**[3] or **falsa**,[4] is a species of [flowering plant](/source/Flowering_plant) in the mallow family [Malvaceae](/source/Malvaceae).[4][5] *Grewia celtidifolia* was initially considered a mere [variety](/source/Variety_(botany)) of phalsa, but is now recognized as a distinct species.

It is a [shrub](/source/Shrub) or small [tree](/source/Tree) growing to 8 m tall. The [leaves](/source/Leaf) are broadly rounded, 5–18 cm long and broad, with a petiole 1–1.5 cm long. The [flowers](/source/Flower) are produced in [cymes](/source/Cyme_(botany)) of several together, the individual flowers about 2 cm diameter, yellow, with five large (12 mm) sepals and five smaller (4–5 mm) petals. The [fruit](/source/Fruit) is an edible [drupe](/source/Drupe) 5–12 mm diameter, purple to black when ripe.[4][6]

## Cultivation and uses

Phalsa fruits (Grewia asiatica),  Kolkata, West Bengal, India

It is extensively cultivated for its sweet and sour [acidic](/source/Acidic) fruit, which is sold in the market during the summer months under the name *falsa*. The flower blooms in April and the fruit is ripe by the end of May. It is available for a very short period in the market, and is at its maximum[*[clarification needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Please_clarify)*] by the middle of June. A [Sharbat](/source/Sharbat_(beverage)) or [squash](/source/Squash_(drink)) is prepared from the fruit pulp by mixing it with sugar and used as an [astringent](/source/Astringent), [stomachic](/source/Stomachic) and cooling agent.

The root is used by [Santhal tribals](/source/Santal_people) for [rheumatisms](/source/Rheumatism). The stem bark is said to be used in refining [sugar](/source/Sugar), for making ropes and its infusion is used as a [demulcent](/source/Demulcent). The leaves are used as an application to [pustular](/source/Pustular) eruptions. The [buds](/source/Buds) are also prescribed by some physicians.[7]

It has become [naturalised](/source/Naturalisation_(biology)) and locally [invasive](/source/Invasive_plant) in [Australia](/source/Australia) and the [Philippines](/source/Philippines).[5][6][8]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-iucn_status_20_November_2021_1-0)** Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI).; IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group (2019). ["*Grewia asiatica*"](https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/147027384/147027386). *[IUCN Red List of Threatened Species](/source/IUCN_Red_List)*. **2019** e.T147027384A147027386. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T147027384A147027386.en](https://doi.org/10.2305%2FIUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T147027384A147027386.en). Retrieved 20 November 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-834064-1_2-0)** ["*Grewia asiatica* L."](http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:834064-1) *Plants of the World Online*. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 3 June 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-GRIN_3-0)** ["*Grewia asiatica*"](https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxonomydetail.aspx?id=18013). *[Germplasm Resources Information Network](/source/Germplasm_Resources_Information_Network)*. [Agricultural Research Service](/source/Agricultural_Research_Service), [United States Department of Agriculture](/source/United_States_Department_of_Agriculture). Retrieved 20 June 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-fop_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-fop_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-fop_4-2) Flora of India [*Grewia asiatica*](http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=5&taxon_id=242413284)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-pier_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-pier_5-1) Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk: [*Grewia asiatica*](http://www.hear.org/Pier/species/grewia_asiatica.htm)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-fwa_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-fwa_6-1) Flora of Western Australia: [*Grewia asiatica*](http://florabase.calm.wa.gov.au/browse/flora?f=220&level=s&id=20000&type=l) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20070901170122/http://florabase.calm.wa.gov.au/browse/flora?f=220&level=s&id=20000&type=l) 2007-09-01 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Purdue University: Fruits of warm climates: [Phalsa](http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/phalsa.html)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-yadav_8-0)** Yadav, A. K. (1999). Phalsa: A Potential New Small Fruit for Georgia. pp.348–352 in: Janick, J. (ed.). *Perspectives on new crops and new uses*. ASHS Press. Available [online](http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1999/v4-348.html).

Taxon identifiers Grewia asiatica Wikidata: Q1998501 Wikispecies: Grewia asiatica AoFP: 4319 APNI: 119159 BOLD: 484588 CoL: 3HD4K Ecocrop: 6520 EoL: 483655 EPPO: GRWAS FloraBase: 20000 FNA: 242413284 FoAO2: Grewia asiatica GBIF: 3152080 GRIN: 18013 iNaturalist: 431078 IPNI: 834064-1 IRMNG: 10590095 ITIS: 506089 IUCN: 147027384 NCBI: 1384607 NTFlora: 5798 Open Tree of Life: 3942798 Plant List: kew-2832898 PLANTS: GRAS2 POWO: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:834064-1 Tropicos: 32200366 WFO: wfo-0000709742

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Grewia asiatica](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grewia_asiatica) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grewia_asiatica?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.