Grewia occidentalis

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse range of habitats across several key regions of the African continent. Within South Tropical Africa, it can be found growing in both Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Moving toward the southern reaches, its presence extends into the Cape Provinces. The species is also documented within the mountainous terrain of Lesotho. Finally, its geographical footprint includes the coastal and inland areas of KwaZulu-Natal.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Grewia occidentalis is characterized by its broad adaptability to diverse topographical gradients, allowing it to inhabit a wide variety of landscapes. It thrives across an extensive altitudinal spectrum, ranging from sea level to high-altitude regions, with an elevational range spanning from a minimum of 2 m AMSL to a maximum of 2075 m AMSL. This significant vertical distribution enables the species to occupy multiple ecological niches, from low-lying coastal or riverine environments to more rugged, montane terrains. Such flexibility in elevation suggests a robust capacity to endure varying temperature regimes and atmospheric pressures, facilitating its presence in various ecosystems within its geographical range.

Elevational range max:

2075 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

2 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Grewia occidentalis is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to establish long-term presence within its natural ecosystem. As a woody plant, it undergoes distinct seasonal transitions, exhibiting a deciduous growth habit where it sheds its foliage in response to environmental cues such as dry seasons or temperature shifts. This cyclical pattern of leaf senescence and regrowth is an integral part of its survival strategy, enabling the plant to conserve resources during unfavorable periods before entering new phases of vegetative and reproductive development.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Grewia occidentalis is characterized by a woody, shrubby growth form that typically reaches a mean height of 2.5 m, with a maximum potential height of up to 3 m. As a self-supporting species, it does not exhibit climbing behavior and functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite. The plant is strictly terrestrial in its habitat, lacking aquatic or epiphytic tendencies, and maintains a robust, woody structure throughout its development.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3 m

Plant height mean:

2.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Grewia occidentalis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency under varying environmental conditions. As a C3 plant, it utilizes the Calvin cycle to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide directly through the enzyme Rubisco, typically favoring environments where moisture is sufficient to minimize photorespiration. Furthermore, regarding its nutrient acquisition capabilities, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer; it lacks the specialized symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, meaning it relies on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium present in the soil substrate to support its vegetative growth and reproductive development.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Grewia occidentalis is characterized by the production of fruit classified as a berry, which remains indehiscent upon maturity. These fruits exhibit an average length of 1.18 cm and an average width of 1.16 cm. Within these fruits, the seeds possess a highly consistent volume, recorded at a mean, minimum, and maximum of 92 mm³. The seed mass varies slightly, ranging from a minimum of 0.05037 g to a maximum of 0.07164 g, with a calculated mean seed mass of 0.0622525 g. Dispersal of the progeny is achieved through a zoochorous syndrome, relying on animals to facilitate the spread of the seeds within its habitat.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit length mean:

1.18 cm

Fruit type :

berry

Fruit width mean:

1.16 cm

Seed mass max:

0.07164 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0622525 g

Seed mass min:

0.05037 g

Seed volume max:

92 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Grewia occidentalis 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)

Conditions

Grewia occidentalis has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include pregnancy, wounds.

Pregnancy

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Wounds

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Grewia occidentalis has 2 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include methanol and distilled water extracts, methanol extracts.

Methanol and distilled water extracts

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Methanol extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology