Grewia asiatica

{{Short description|Species of flowering plant in the mallow family}} {{Speciesbox |image=Phalsa03_Asit.jpg |image2=Phalsa09 Asit.jpg |image_caption=Flowers and leaves |status = LC |status_system = IUCN3.1 |status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 20 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI). |author2=IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group |date=2019 |title=''Grewia asiatica'' |volume=2019 |article-number=e.T147027384A147027386 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T147027384A147027386.en |access-date=20 November 2021}}</ref> |genus=Grewia |species=asiatica |authority=[[Carl Linnaeus|L.]] |synonyms_ref=<ref name="834064-1" >{{cite web |url=http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:834064-1 |title=''Grewia asiatica'' L. |author= |website=Plants of the World Online |publisher=Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |access-date=3 June 2021 }}</ref> |synonyms= *''Grewia hainesiana'' Hole *''Grewia obtecta'' Wall. *''Grewia subinaequalis'' DC. }}

'''''Grewia asiatica''''', commonly known as '''phalsa'''<ref name=GRIN>{{GRIN | access-date = 20 June 2021}}</ref> or '''falsa''',<ref name="fop">Flora of India [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=5&taxon_id=242413284 ''Grewia asiatica'']</ref> is a species of [[flowering plant]] in the mallow family [[Malvaceae]].<ref name="fop"/><ref name="pier">Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk: [http://www.hear.org/Pier/species/grewia_asiatica.htm ''Grewia asiatica'']</ref> ''Grewia celtidifolia'' was initially considered a mere [[variety (botany)|variety]] of phalsa, but is now recognized as a distinct species.

It is a [[shrub]] or small [[tree]] growing to 8 m tall. The [[leaf|leaves]] are broadly rounded, 5–18 cm long and broad, with a petiole 1–1.5 cm long. The [[flower]]s are produced in [[Cyme (botany)|cymes]] 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]] is an edible [[drupe]] 5–12 mm diameter, purple to black when ripe.<ref name=fop/><ref name=fwa>Flora of Western Australia: [http://florabase.calm.wa.gov.au/browse/flora?f=220&level=s&id=20000&type=l ''Grewia asiatica''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070901170122/http://florabase.calm.wa.gov.au/browse/flora?f=220&level=s&id=20000&type=l |date=2007-09-01 }}</ref>

==Cultivation and uses== [[File:Phalsa fruits (Grewia asiatica).jpg|thumb|left|Phalsa fruits (Grewia asiatica), Kolkata, West Bengal, India]] It is extensively cultivated for its sweet and sour [[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|reason=maximum what?|date=May 2023}} by the middle of June. A [[Sharbat (beverage)|Sharbat]] or [[squash (drink)|squash]] is prepared from the fruit pulp by mixing it with sugar and used as an [[astringent]], [[stomachic]] and cooling agent.

The root is used by [[Santal people|Santhal tribals]] for [[rheumatism]]s. The stem bark is said to be used in refining [[sugar]], for making ropes and its infusion is used as a [[demulcent]]. The leaves are used as an application to [[pustular]] eruptions. The [[buds]] are also prescribed by some physicians.<ref>Purdue University: Fruits of warm climates: [http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/phalsa.html Phalsa]</ref>

It has become [[Naturalisation (biology)|naturalised]] and locally [[invasive plant|invasive]] in [[Australia]] and the [[Philippines]].<ref name=pier/><ref name=fwa/><ref name=yadav>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 [http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1999/v4-348.html online].</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

[[Category:Grewia|asiatica]] [[Category:Flora of tropical Asia]] [[Category:Plants described in 1767]]