Bark
Smooth, ash-grey, fibrous bark covering slender, intricate branches that are heavily star-hairy (stellate) when young.
Grewia tenax
Syn. Grewia populifolia
IUCN Red List
Least Concern
(LC)
Local name
- Falsa Cherry (English)
- Gangeti (Hindi)
- Kaladi (Telugu)
Shrub type
Evergreen
Deciduous
Family: Malvaceae
2m
Indicated uses
Medicinal
Edible
Ornamental
Avenue
Other
Flowering & fruiting
Flowering
Fruiting
Key characters
Leaves
Small, coarsely toothed leaves (1.5–4 cm long) that are subcircular to ovate, alternate, strongly tri-nerved at the base, and rough beneath.
Flower
Pure white to yellowish-white flowers (2–2.5 cm wide) growing solitary or in pairs, featuring five petals that sharply recurve backwards.
Fruit / Seeds
Distinctive 2-to-4-lobed drupes (~5–8 mm wide) that mature into a bright orange-yellow or reddish-crust raisin containing hard seeds.
Did you know?
The Latin name tenax means “tenacious” or “tough,” referring to the plant’s strong fibrous branches and remarkable ability to survive in extremely dry environments.
Distribution
Sahara to Tanzania and S. Africa, Arabian Peninsula, Indian Subcontinent