Grewia asiatica

Botanical Name – Grewia asiatica

Common Name – Paroushak (Sanskrit), Phalsi, Dhamru, Dhamin (Hindi), Phalsa (Marathi), Tadasali (Kannada), Shukri (Gujrati)

Distribution

• Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu
  
  

Habit

• Large deciduous shrub or small tree
• Fast growing species
  
  

Habitat

• Common in dry, moist deciduous and semi evergreen forests

Specific Properties

• Drought resistant
  
  

Ecology

• Birds and mammals- squirrels, bats, sloth bear, civets, macaques feed on fruits
• Larval host plant for Baronet and Chestnut-streaked Sailer butterflies
• Attracts lots of bees and flies
  
  

Use

• Edible fruits- used in making jams, squashes and chutneys
• Leaves have antimicrobial, anticancer, antiplatelet and antiemetic activities
• fruit possess anticancer, antioxidant, radioprotective and antihyperglycemic properties
• Stem/ bark have analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities
• Fruits are cooling tonic, relieve thirst, reduce burning sensations, remove biliousness beneficial for heart, blood, and liver disorders. Cure inflammation, heart and blood disorders, throat infections, anorexia, indigestion, stomatitis, hiccough, asthma, fevers and diarrhoea, tuberculosis, and sexual debility troubles
• Leaves are applied on wounds and cuts, relieves irritation and pain
• Good for planting on farm bunds
• Fibre used in making ropes
• Shoots are used to make strong baskets, used for transport of fruit and vegetables
• Stem bark is used in sugar refining (jaggery preparation)
• Leaves are fodder
• The bark is used as a soap substitute
  
  

Propagation

• Seeds
• Stem cuttings