View crop

Grewia asiatica

Authority	L.
Family	Magnoliopsida:Dilleniidae:Malvales:Tiliaceae
Synonyms	Gretcia hainesiana Hole (1917), Grewia subinaequalis DC. (1824)
Common names	bariuan, cò-ke-à, malai, nhaab, phalsa, po tao hai, pophlië, ya-khithut
Editor
Ecocrop code	6520

Notes
BRIEF DESCRIPTION A small deciduous tree or straggling bush reaching 2-8 m in height, with rough, grey bark, long, slender branches and broadly cordate to ovate leaves, 20 x 16 cm. The fruit is a globose drupe, 1.8-2.2 cm in diameter, red or purple. USES The fruits are eaten as a dessert and used in drinks or sherbets. The wood is strong and elastic and can be used for light construction works, golf sticks, bows etc. Young shoots are used for making barskets and the bark is used for fiber. The fruit and bark have medicinal properties. KILLING T Frost hardy. GROWING PERIOD Perennial. When grown for fruit the plant must be cut down to the ground each year to provide for new shoots. The fruit mature 45-55 days after flowering. Under subtropical conditions there is a brief period of dormancy lasting 4-6 weeks when the plant sheds its leaves. COMMON NAMES Phalsa, Bijol-goch, Man-bijal, Phuhura, Dhaman, Bimla, Bariuan, Pharsia, Pophlie, Nhaab, Malai, Dhamni, Ya-khithut, Po tao hai, Co-ke-a, Mirgichara, Pheru, Shukri, Palsia, Jana. FURTHER INF Scientific synonyms: G. elastica, G. vestita, G. subinaequalis, G. hainesiana. Phalsa is native of the Himalayan region. In the tropics, phalsa can be found at elevations between sea level and 1500 m. It is very hardy, drought-resistant and requires little care. It does best in regions having distinct summer and winter seasons. The fruit yield per bush ranges between 3-10 kg per year or 4.5-6 t/ha.
Sources
SOURCES (G. asiatica L.) Joshi H 1980a pp 76-78 [RAIN, TEXT, DRA, PH, KTMP, USE] Roecklein J 1987 pp 21 [USE] Hackett C 1982 pp 156 [FER, PHO, DEP, PH, TEXT, TEMP] Duke J 1975 pp 17 [PH, RAIN, TEMP] Singh R 1969 pp 142-143 [DRA, USE] Verheij E 1991 pp 184-186 [USE, KTMP, TEMP, TEXT, PH, FER]