Grewia flava

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range across several regions of the African continent. Within South Tropical Africa, its presence is specifically noted in Angola and Zimbabwe. Moving into the Southern African region, it can be found throughout Botswana and the Cape Provinces. Additionally, the species extends its reach into the Caprivi Strip. Together, these locations highlight the broad environmental adaptability of Grewia flava.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Grewia flava is characterized by its ability to thrive across a broad altitudinal spectrum, demonstrating significant environmental adaptability. It is found distributed across diverse topographical gradients, occupying an elevational range that begins at a minimum of 155 m AMSL and extends up to a maximum of 1830 m AMSL. This wide vertical distribution suggests that the species can tolerate varying climatic conditions, ranging from warmer, lowland environments to cooler, montane habitats, allowing it to persist in a variety of ecological niches within its native range.

Elevational range max:

1830 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

155 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Grewia flava is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to maintain its presence in its natural habitat over many years. As a long-lived woody plant, it follows a developmental trajectory that transitions from seedling establishment to a mature, robust form capable of enduring seasonal environmental shifts. Throughout its multi-year lifespan, the plant undergoes periodic cycles of growth, flowering, and seed production, ensuring its continued survival and ability to colonize surrounding areas. This perennial nature enables it to develop extensive root systems and structural resilience, which are essential for its long-term persistence in its specific ecological niche.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Grewia flava is characterized by a woody, shrubby growth form that typically reaches a mean height of 2 m, though it can attain a maximum height of up to 3 m. As a terrestrial species, it thrives in non-aquatic environments and functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite. The plant is self-supporting in its structure, lacking any climbing tendencies, and maintains a robust, woody constitution throughout its development.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3 m

Plant height mean:

2 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Grewia flava is characterized by its specific metabolic and nutritional processes, most notably its carbon fixation mechanism. This species utilizes a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which involves the direct fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide into organic compounds through the Calvin cycle without the specialized anatomical adaptations seen in C4 or CAM plants. Furthermore, in terms of its nutrient cycling capabilities, Grewia flava is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it does not possess a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form for the plant.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Grewia flava is characterized by the production of fruit categorized as a berry, which serves as the primary vessel for seed development. These fruits are indehiscent, meaning they do not spontaneously split open at maturity to release their contents. The dispersal of the seeds follows a zoochorous syndrome, suggesting that animals play a critical role in transporting the seeds to new locations. Regarding the physical properties of the seeds, they exhibit a measurable variation in size, with a minimum seed mass of 0.04145 g and a maximum seed mass reaching up to 0.16273 g. On average, the seed mass for this species is approximately 0.100032 g.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit type :

berry

Seed mass max:

0.16273 g

Seed mass mean:

0.100032 g

Seed mass min:

0.04145 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Grewia flava has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Preparations

Grewia flava has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include methanol and distilled water extracts.

Methanol and distilled water extracts

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)