Grewia abutilifolia (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Grewia abutilifolia Vent. ex Juss.

Protologue: Ann. Mus. Natl. Hist. Nat., Paris 4: 92 (1804).

Family: Tiliaceae

Synonyms

• Grewia sclerophylla Roxb. ex G. Don (1831),
• Grewia aspera Roxb. (1832).

Vernacular names

• Thailand: ya pit (northern), po yap (south-western), khao chi (north-eastern)
• Vietnam: cò ke lá rộng.

Distribution

India, Sri Lanka, Burma (Myanmar), Indo-China, southern China, Thailand and drier parts of Peninsular Malaysia and Java.

Uses

In Thailand the stems are used as a remedy for acne, and a root decoction as a remedy for fever. The bark yields good quality fibre that is made into rope.

Observations

• A shrub, up to 3 m tall.
• Leaves alternate; petiole 1-2 cm long, stellate-pubescent; blade broadly ovate, 2.5-12 cm × 2-11 cm, 3-veined from the base, hairy on both sides, base cordate, margin serrate or doubly serrate, apex acute, obtuse or obtusely acuminate and often shallowly lobed.
• Inflorescence an axillary, erect cyme, 1-2 cm long, peduncle 1-5 mm long; flower buds ovoid to ellipsoid, 4-6 mm × 3 mm, sepals 5, oblong, petals 5, oblong, 2-3 mm × 1 mm, ciliate in lower half, stamens glabrous, ovary ovoid, c. 1.5 mm long, hairy.
• Fruit a globose, 2-4-lobed, glabrescent capsule.

G. abutilifolia occurs in open, dry, mixed deciduous forest at 100-1000 m altitude.

Selected sources

249, 742. medicinals

6, 49. fibres

Main genus page

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Authors

• Wongsatit Chuakul, Noppamas Soonthornchareonnon & Orawan Ruangsomboon