Sandpaper raisin
StarGrewia flavescens
Synonyms: Vincentia flavescens, Vinticena flavescens
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
In African and Indian folk medicine the mucilaginous tissues of the leaves, stems and roots of Grewia flavescens are valued for their soothing, demulcent properties. Decoctions are taken internally as a remedy for diarrhoea and dysentery, while the same mucilage is applied externally as a poultice to wounds, cuts, ulcers and skin irritations to promote healing. Root preparations are used to treat menstrual disorders and other complaints of women, and the bark and leaves are employed for digestive upsets; the ripe fruit is also widely eaten as a wild food (PFAF; Useful Tropical Plants).
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Botanical Description
Grewia flavescens, the sandpaper raisin, rough-leaved raisin or donkey berry, is a scrambling, multi-stemmed deciduous shrub of the family Malvaceae, native to sub-Saharan Africa, Yemen, Saudi Arabia and India. It typically grows 2 to 4 metres tall, with distinctive four-angled, longitudinally grooved young branches that are densely covered in short, harsh, star-shaped hairs giving the foliage and twigs a rasping, sandpaper-like texture. The alternate leaves are ovate to oblong, 4 to 12 centimetres long, with toothed margins, three prominent veins from the base, and a rough surface on both sides. The yellow, star-shaped flowers, about 2 centimetres across with five narrow petals and numerous stamens, are borne singly or in small clusters opposite the leaves. The fruit is a fleshy, two-lobed drupe ripening reddish-brown to purplish-black, edible and sweet, attractive to birds, mammals and people. The species is widespread in wooded grassland, bushveld and on rocky hillsides, often forming dense, tangled thickets.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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