Grewia

{{Short description|Genus of flowering plants}} {{Automatic taxobox | image = Starr_980529-4195_Grewia_occidentalis.jpg | image_caption = Crossberry (''Grewia occidentalis'') | taxon = Grewia | authority = L. | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = Numerous, see text or Complete list | synonyms = {{species list | ''Arsis'' | Lour. | ''Balmeda'' | Steud. | ''Chadara'' | Forsk. | ''Chadra'' | T.Anders. (orth. var.) | ''Charadra'' | Scop. (orth. var.) | ''Eleutherostylis'' | Burret | ''Fallopia'' | Lour. (''non'' Adans.: preoccupied) | ''Graevia'' | Neck. | ''Greuia'' | Stokes. (orth. var.) | ''Grevia'' | L. (orth. var.) | ''Mallococca'' | J.R.Forster & G.Forster | ''Tridermia'' | Rafin. | ''Vincentia'' | Bojer | ''Vinticena'' | Steud. | ''Viticena'' | Benth. (orth. var.) }} |synonyms_ref = <ref name = powo>{{cite web |title=''Grewia'' L. |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30123138-2 |website=Plants of the World Online |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |access-date=3 November 2025}}</ref><ref>Hinsley (2008a)</ref> }} [[File:Grewia damine in Hyderabad W2 IMG 9430.jpg|thumb|''Grewia damine'' flowers in Hyderabad, India]] [[Image:Grewia flavescens (G pilosa)- Khatkhati in Hyderabad, AP W IMG 9130.jpg|thumb|''Grewia flavescens'' flowers in Hyderabad]] [[File:Grewia tiliaefolia flowers & leaves in Hyderabad W2 IMG 9422.jpg|thumb|''Grewia tiliaefolia'' flowers in Hyderabad]] '''''Grewia''''' {{IPAc-en|'|g|r|u:|i|@}} is a large flowering plant genus in the mallow family Malvaceae, in the expanded sense as proposed by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group. Formerly, ''Grewia'' was placed in either the family Tiliaceae or the Sparrmanniaceae. However, these were both not monophyletic with respect to other Malvales - as already indicated by the uncertainties surrounding placement of ''Grewia'' and similar genera - and have thus been merged into the Malvaceae. Together with the bulk of the former Sparrmanniaceae, ''Grewia'' is in the subfamily Grewioideae and therein the tribe Grewieae, of which it is the type genus.<ref>Heywood ''et al.'' (2007)</ref>

The genus was named by Carl Linnaeus, in honor of the botanist Nehemiah Grew (1641-1712) from England. Grew was one of the leading plant anatomists and microscope researchers of his time, and his study of pollen laid the groundwork for modern-day palynology.

==Ecology and uses== Several Lepidoptera caterpillars are found to feed on ''Grewia'' species. These include the common nawab (''Polyura athamas'') and the swift moth ''Endoclita malabaricus''. The Bucculatricidae leaf miner ''Bucculatrix epibathra'' is apparently only found on ''G. tiliaefolia''.

The parasitic wasp ''Aprostocetus psyllidis'' of the Eulophidae occurs on and around phalsa (''G. asiatica''). Its larvae are parasitoids of other insects - possibly pests of the plant, but this is not known for sure.

Several species, namely phalsa, are known for their edible fruit, which are of local commercial importance. The astringent and refreshing ''Grewia'' drupes are particularly popular in summertime. Folk medicine makes use of some species, which are reputed to cure upset stomachs and some skin and intestinal infections, and seem to have mild antibiotic properties. ''G. mollis'' is reputed to contain β-carboline alkaloids,<ref>Brown (2001)</ref> though whether such compounds occur in other species too and whether they are produced in quantities to render the plants psychoactive has not been thoroughly studied.

In Myanmar, the bark of the tree of ''Grewia polygama'' (Burmese: တရော်) or ''Grewia eriocarpa'' (Burmese: ပင်တရော်) is mixed with the soapy ''kinpun'' (''Senegalia rugata'') fruit and sometimes lime to make the traditional shampoo ''tayaw kinpun'',<ref>{{cite news | author=Yadu | title=မှေးမှိန်လာနေတဲ့ တရော်ကင်ပွန်းသုံးစွဲခြင်း အလေ့အထ | url=https://myanmar.mmtimes.com/video/127851 | work=The Myanmar Times | date=31 August 2019 | language=my-MM | access-date=2 August 2022 | archive-date=20 February 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210220213119/https://myanmar.mmtimes.com/video/127851 | url-status=live }}</ref> which remains widely used by the Burmese people and commonly sold in the country's open-air markets, typically in plastic bags.<ref>{{cite news |title=Myanmar Shampoo |url=https://www.myanmars.net/culture/myanmar-shampoo.html |work=www.myanmars.net |date=13 November 2018 |language=en-gb |access-date=2 August 2022 |archive-date=17 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220817015406/https://www.myanmars.net/culture/myanmar-shampoo.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Yan Win (Taung Da Gar) – Myanmar Shampoo |url=http://www.thithtoolwin.com/2011/04/yan-win-taung-da-gar-myanmar-shampoo.html |work=THIT HTOO LWIN (Daily News) |date=16 April 2011 |language=my-MM |access-date=2 August 2022 |archive-date=8 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190908094555/http://www.thithtoolwin.com/2011/04/yan-win-taung-da-gar-myanmar-shampoo.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Explorer Ludwig Leichhardt described preparing a refreshing drink from the seeds of native Australian species ''G. polygama''.<ref name="MAIDEN">{{cite book |last=Maiden |first=J. H. |title=The Useful Native Plants of Australia, (Including Tasmania) |date=1889 |publisher=The Technological Museum of New South Wales |location=Sydney |page=34 |access-date=20 December 2025 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/12453214 }}</ref>

==Selected species== {{Main|List of Grewia species}} 275 species are accepted.<ref name = powo/> Selected species include: * ''Grewia abutifolia'' (= ''G. sclerophylla'' Roxb. ex G. Don, ''Sterculia tiliacea'' Leveille) * ''Grewia afra'' Meisn. (= ''G. fruticetorum'' J.R.Drummond ex Baker f.) * ''Grewia asiatica'' – phalsa, falsa * ''Grewia avellana'' Hiern. (= ''G. calycina'' N.E.Br., ''G. hydrophila'' K.Schum., ''G. perennans'' K.Schum.) * ''Grewia bicolor'' Juss. (= ''G. disticha'' Dinter & Burret, ''G. grisea'', ''G. kwebensis'' N.E.Br., ''G. miniata'' Mast. ex Hiern., ''G. mossambicensis'') * ''Grewia biloba'' G.Don – bilobed Grewia (= ''G. biloba'' var. ''glabrescens'' (Benth.) Rehder, ''G. glabrescens'' Benth., ''G. parviflora'' var. ''glabrescens'' (Benth.) Rehder & E.H.Wilson) ** ''Grewia biloba'' var. ''microphylla'' (Maxim) Hand.-Mazz. (= ''G. parviflora'' var. ''microphylla'' Maxim.) ** ''Grewia biloba'' var. ''parviflora'' (Bunge) Hand.-Mazz. (= ''G. chanetii'' H.Lév., ''G. parviflora'' Bunge, ''G. parviflora'' var. ''velutina'' Pampanini) * ''Grewia bilocularis'' Balf.f. * ''Grewia calymmatosepala'' K.Schum. * ''Grewia celtidifolia'' Juss. (= ''G. asiatica'' var. ''celtidifolia'' (Jussieu) L.F.Gagnepain, ''G. simaoensis'' Y.Y.Qian, ''G. yunnanensis'' H.T.Chang) * ''Grewia crenata'' (J.R.Forst.) Schinz & Guillaumin (= ''G. malococca, G. persicaefolia, G. prunifolia, Mallococca crenata'') – ''au‘ere'' (Cook Islands), ''fau ui'' (Samoa), ''fo ui'' (Tonga) * ''Grewia cyclea'' {{small|Baill.}} – ''andilambarika'' (Malagasy) * ''Grewia damine'' Gaertn. (= ''G. tiliifolia'' Vahl) * ''Grewia eriocarpa'' Juss. (= ''G. boehmeriifolia'' Kanehira & Sasaki, ''G. elastica'' Royle, ''G. lantsangensis'' Hu) * ''Grewia falcistipula'' K.Schum. * ''Grewia flava'' DC. (= ''G. cana'' Sond., ''G. hermannioides'' Harv.) * ''Grewia flavescens'' Juss. (= ''G. flavescens'' var. ''longipedunculata'' Burret) * ''Grewia glabra'' Blume – sometimes included in ''G. multiflora'' * ''Grewia glandulosa'' Vahl (= ''G. salicifolia'' Schinz) * ''Grewia goetzeana'' K.Schum. * ''Grewia hexamita'' Burret (= ''G. messinica'' Burtt Davy & Greenway, ''G. schweickerdtii'' Burret) * ''Grewia hirsuta'' Vahl. * ''Grewia hornbyi'' Wild * ''Grewia inaequilatera'' Garcke * ''Grewia insularis'' Ridl. (Christmas Island) * ''Grewia lasiocarpa'' E.Mey. ex Harv. * ''Grewia latifolia'' F.Muell. ex Benth. * ''Grewia limae'' Wild * ''Grewia microthyrsa'' K.Schum. ex Burret * ''Grewia mollis'' Juss. * ''Grewia monticola'' Sond. (= ''G. cordata'' N.E.Br., ''G. discolor'', N.E.Br.) * ''Grewia multiflora'' Juss. (= ''G. didyma'' Roxb. ex G.Don, ''G. disperma'' Rottler, ''G. guazumifolia'' Juss., ''G. jinghongensis'' Y.Y.Qian, ''G. oblongifolia'' Blume, ''G. serrulata'' DC.) * ''Grewia occidentalis'' L. – Crossberry * ''Grewia olukondae'' Schinz. (= ''G. flavescens'' var. ''olukondae'' (Schinz) Wild) * ''Grewia optiva'' J.R.Drumm. ex Burret (= ''G. oppositifolia'' Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don) * ''Grewia orientalis'' Carl Linnaeus * ''Grewia oxyphylla'' Burret * ''Grewia pachycalyx'' K.Schum. * ''Grewia picta'' (= ''G. aldabrensis'' Baker * ''Grewia renistipulata'' {{small|(Burret) Dorr}} * ''Grewia retinervis'' Burret (= ''G. deserticola'' Ulbr.) * ''Grewia retusifolia'' Kurz * ''Grewia robusta'' Burch * ''Grewia rothii'' DC * ''Grewia savannicola'' ("Dogs balls")R.L.Barrett<ref>Barrett, R. L. (2019). [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/335337216_Three_new_species_of_Corchorus_L_and_Grewia_L_Sparmanniaceae_Malvaceae_subfamily_Grewioideae_from_northern_Australia_an_earlier_name_in_Grewia_and_recircumscription_of_Triumfetta_kenneallyi_Halford Three new species of Corchorus L. and Grewia L. (Sparmanniaceae / Malvaceae subfamily Grewioideae) from northern Australia, an earlier name in Grewia, and recircumscription of Triumfetta kenneallyi Halford] ''Austrobaileya'' 10(3): 458–472 (2019).</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-09-09/dogs-balls-shrub-to-be-recognised-as-new-species/11492066|title='Dog's balls' shrub to be recognised as a new species, but colloquial name to remain|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=2019-09-09|author= Kristy Sexton-McGrath|access-date=2019-09-09}}</ref> * ''Grewia schinzii'' K.Schum. (= ''G. velutinissima'' Dunkley) * ''Grewia similis'' K.Schum. * ''Grewia stolzii'' Ulbr. * ''Grewia sulcata'' Mast. * ''Grewis tembensis'' Fresen.<ref>Bussmann, R. W., et al. (2006). [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1475560/ Plant use of the Maasai of Sekenani Valley, Maasai Mara, Kenya.] ''J Ethnobiol Ethnomed'' 2 22.</ref> * ''Grewia tenax'' (Forssk.) (= ''Chadara tenax'' Forssk., ''G. populifolia'' Vahl) * ''Grewia tiliifolia'' Vahl (= ''G. rotunda'' C.Y.Wu, ''G. tiliaefolia'' (''lapsus''), ''Tilia rotunda'' C.Y.Wu & H.T.Chang) * ''Grewia transzambesica'' Wild * ''Grewia turbinata'' Balf.f. * ''Grewia villosa'' Willd.

===Formerly placed here=== Some species once placed in ''Grewia'' (or genera synonymous with it) have since been moved elsewhere, particularly to ''Microcos'':<ref>Hinsley (2008a), USDA (2008a)</ref> [[Image:Kleinhovia hospita flower IMG 9203.jpg|thumb|right|''Kleinhovia hospita'' was formerly known as ''Grewia meyeniana'']] * ''Alangium salviifolium'' (as ''G. salviifolia'' L.f.) * ''Dombeya boehmiana'' (as ''Vincentia boehmiana'' (F.Hoffm.) Burret)<ref>Hinsley (2008b)</ref> * ''Kleinhovia hospita'' (as ''G. meyeniana'') * ''Microcos chungii'' (as ''G. chungii'' Merr. * ''Microcos nervosa'' – possibly belongs in ''M. paniculata'' (as ''G. nervosa'' (Lour.) Panigrahi) * ''Microcos paniculata'' (as ''G. microcos'' L. and possibly ''G. nervosa'' (Lour.) Panigrahi) * ''Microcos triflora'' (as ''G. stylocarpa'' Warb. and ''G. stylocarpa'' var. ''longipetiolata'' Merr.) * ''Trichospermum mexicanum'' (as ''G. mexicana'' DC.)

==Footnotes== {{Reflist}}

==References== {{Wikispecies}} {{Commons category}} * {{aut|Brown, Dan}} (2001): [https://www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/toxicagents/betacarbolines/bcarbfams.html Angiosperm Families Containing Beta-Carbolines]. Version of 2001-OCT-04. Retrieved 2008-JUN-25. * {{aut|Heywood, V.H.; Brummitt, R.K.; Culham, A. & Seberg, O.}} (2007): ''Flowering Plant Families of the World''. Firefly Books, Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada. {{ISBN|1-55407-206-9}} * {{aut|Hinsley, Stewart R.}} (2008a): [http://www.malvaceae.info/Synonymy/Synonymy.php?genus=Grewia Partial Synonymy of ''Grewia'']. Retrieved 2008-JUN-25. * {{aut|Hinsley, Stewart R.}} (2008b): [http://www.malvaceae.info/Synonymy/Synonymy.php?genus=Dombeya Partial Synonymy of ''Dombeya'']. Retrieved 2008-JUN-25. * {{aut|United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)}} (2007a): Germplasm Resources Information Network - [https://web.archive.org/web/20001218092500/http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/splist.pl?5160 ''Grewia'']. Retrieved 2008-JUN-25. * {{aut|United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)}} (2007b): [https://plants.usda.gov/java/ClassificationServlet?source=display&classid=GREWI USDA Plants Profile: ''Grewia'']. Retrieved 2008-JUN-25.

Category:Grewia Category:Malvaceae genera Category:Botanical taxa named by Carl Linnaeus