Grewia


Grewia 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.
The genus was named by Carl Linnaeus, in honor of the botanist Nehemiah Grew 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 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. 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, 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 or Grewia eriocarpa is mixed with the soapy kinpun fruit and sometimes lime to make the traditional shampoo tayaw kinpun, which remains widely used by the Burmese people and commonly sold in the country's open-air markets, typically in plastic bags.
Explorer Ludwig Leichhardt described preparing a refreshing drink from the seeds of native Australian species G. polygama.

Selected species

275 species are accepted. Selected species include:
  • Grewia abutifolia
  • Grewia afra Meisn.
  • Grewia asiatica - phalsa, falsa
  • Grewia avellana Hiern.
  • Grewia bicolor Juss.
  • Grewia biloba G.Don - bilobed Grewia Rehder, G. glabrescens Benth., G. parviflora var. glabrescens
  • * Grewia biloba var. microphylla Hand.-Mazz.
  • * Grewia biloba var. parviflora Hand.-Mazz.
  • Grewia bilocularis Balf.f.
  • Grewia calymmatosepala K.Schum.
  • Grewia celtidifolia Juss.
  • Grewia crenata Schinz & Guillaumin - au‘ere, fau ui, fo ui
  • Grewia cyclea – andilambarika
  • Grewia damine Gaertn.
  • Grewia eriocarpa Juss.
  • Grewia falcistipula K.Schum.
  • Grewia flava DC.
  • Grewia flavescens Juss.
  • Grewia glabra Blume - sometimes included in G. multiflora
  • Grewia glandulosa Vahl
  • Grewia goetzeana K.Schum.
  • Grewia hexamita Burret
  • Grewia hirsuta Vahl.
  • Grewia hornbyi Wild
  • Grewia inaequilatera Garcke
  • Grewia insularis Ridl.
  • 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.
  • Grewia multiflora Juss.
  • Grewia occidentalis L. - Crossberry
  • Grewia olukondae Schinz.
  • Grewia optiva J.R.Drumm. ex Burret
  • Grewia orientalis Carl Linnaeus
  • Grewia oxyphylla Burret
  • Grewia pachycalyx K.Schum.
  • Grewia picta
  • Grewia retusifolia Kurz
  • Grewia robusta Burch
  • Grewia rothii DC
  • Grewia savannicola R.L.Barrett
  • Grewia schinzii K.Schum.
  • Grewia similis K.Schum.
  • Grewia stolzii Ulbr.
  • Grewia sulcata Mast.
  • Grewis tembensis Fresen.
  • Grewia tenax
  • Grewia tiliifolia Vahl
  • Grewia transzambesica Wild
  • Grewia turbinata Balf.f.
  • Grewia villosa Willd.

    Formerly placed here

Some species once placed in Grewia have since been moved elsewhere, particularly to Microcos:
Image:Kleinhovia hospita flower IMG 9203.jpg|thumb|right|Kleinhovia hospita was formerly known as Grewia meyeniana
  • Alangium salviifolium
  • Dombeya boehmiana
  • Kleinhovia hospita
  • Microcos chungii
  • ''Trichospermum mexicanum''