About Grewia villosa Willd.
Grewia villosa Willd. is a usually scrambling shrub that rarely grows taller than 4 meters. It has fairly large, serrated, heart-shaped leaves. This species grows naturally mainly in dry habitats. It is common across most semi-arid regions of Eastern Africa, though it may now be rare in parts of its original natural range. It can also be found at Ein Gedi oasis in Israel, and it is common in South Africa. Ripe copper-coloured fruits of Grewia villosa are eaten in East Africa. For local use, both immature green fruits and ripened, hardened dark reddish-brown fruits are eaten. The bark is stripped, then crushed in water or chewed into a pulp. This pulp is used for washing the body, cleaning the hair, and disinfecting the scalp.
