Grewia asiatica
| Grewia asiatica | |
|---|---|
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| Flowers and leaves | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malvales |
| Family: | Malvaceae |
| Genus: | Grewia |
| Species: | G. asiatica
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| Binomial name | |
| Grewia asiatica | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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Grewia asiatica, commonly known as phalsa[3] or falsa,[4] is a species of flowering plant in the mallow family Malvaceae. It was first found in Varanasi, India, and was taken by Buddhist scholars to other Asian countries including Pakistan and the rest of the world.[4][5] Grewia celtidifolia was initially considered a mere variety of phalsa, but is now recognized as a distinct species.
It is a
cymes of several together, the individual flowers about 2 cm diameter, yellow, with five large (12 mm) sepals and five smaller (4–5 mm) petals. The fruit is an edible drupe 5–12 mm diameter, purple to black when ripe.[4][6]
Cultivation and uses
It is extensively cultivated for its sweet and sour
Sharbat or squash is prepared from the fruit pulp by mixing it with sugar and used as an astringent, stomachic
and cooling agent.
The root is used by
buds are also prescribed by some physicians.[7]
It has become
References
- . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ^ "Grewia asiatica L." Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
- ^ "Grewia asiatica". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
- ^ a b c Flora of India Grewia asiatica
- ^ a b Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk: Grewia asiatica
- ^ a b Flora of Western Australia: Grewia asiatica Archived 2007-09-01 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Purdue University: Fruits of warm climates: Phalsa
- ^ Yadav, A. K. (1999). Phalsa: A Potential New Small Fruit for Georgia. pp.348–352 in: Janick, J. (ed.). Perspectives on new crops and new uses. ASHS Press. Available online.