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{{Short description|Species of shrub, small tree}}
{{italic title}}
'''''Grewia occidentalis''''', the '''crossberry''', is a species of [[deciduous]] tree, indigenous to [[Southern Africa]].<ref name="PZA Sanbi"/>
__NOTOC__
{{taxobox
|name = ''Grewia occidentalis''
|image =Starr_980529-4195_Grewia_occidentalis.jpg
| image_width = 240px
|image_caption = The Crossberry (''[[Grewia occidentalis]]'')
|regnum = [[Plantae]]
|unranked_divisio = [[Angiosperms]]
|unranked_classis = [[Eudicots]]
|unranked_ordo = [[Rosids]]
|ordo = [[Malvales]]
|familia = [[Malvaceae]]
|subfamilia = [[Grewioideae]]
|tribus = [[Grewieae]]
|genus = '''''Grewia'''''
|genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
| species = '''''G. occidentalis'''''
| binomial = ''Grewia occidentalis''
|}}


{{Speciesbox
'''''Grewia occidentalis''''' (or '''Cross-berry''') is an attractive shrub or small tree that is indigenous to [[Southern Africa]].
|image = Starr_980529-4195_Grewia_occidentalis.jpg
<ref>http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantefg/grewiaoccident.htm</ref>
|image2 = Grewia occidentalis01.jpg
|image2_caption = Fruits
|genus = Grewia
|species = occidentalis
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 18 November 2021"/>
|authority = [[Carl Linnaeus|L.]]
| synonyms = *''Grewia chirindae'' <small>Baker f. </small>
*''Grewia microphylla'' <small> Weim. </small>
*''Grewia obtusifolia '' <small>Eckl. & Zeyh. </small>
*''Grewia trinervis '' <small>E.Mey. </small>
*''Grewia ulmifolia'' <small> Salisb. </small><ref name="WFO"/>
}}
[[File:Grewia occidentalis02.jpg|thumb|{{center|Seeds of ''Grewia occidentalis''}}]]


==Description==

A dense, attractive shrub or small tree with dark green leaves 3-10m high, sometimes scrambling. The common names are "crossberry" and "four-corner." Its simple leaves are shiny, deep green and slightly fleshy, about 5-7cm long with small rounded teeth. The sepals and petals form unusual double star-shaped flowers, purple, mauve, pink or rarely white, 1.5-3cm across. Flower time is summer, followed by four-lobed fruits (drupes). These shiny reddish-brown berry-like fruits remain on the tree after maturity and attract fruit-eating birds.

==Distribution and Habitat==
Grewia occidentalis occurs naturally across south-eastern Africa, where its range extends from [[Cape Town]] along the coast to [[Mozambique]] and inland to [[Zimbabwe]].<ref name="POWO Kew"/>

The native habitats of the plant are extremely varied, it is found in both the arid [[karoo]] of western South Africa and from the [[Highveld]], and across the [[Afromontane]] forests of the [[Drakensberg]] range along the eastern coastline.<ref name="PZA Sanbi"/>

==Growing ''Grewia occidentalis''==
{{Urs|date=December 2021}}
This decorative garden plant tolerates both light frost and drought. It also grows in both full sun or shade. The root system is not aggressive and can therefore be planted near buildings and paving, and it is very good at attracting butterflies and birds to the garden.{{cn|date=December 2021}}
The crossberry is best propagated from seed, although even then it can be erratic, as usually the seed needs to pass through the gut of a [[monkey]] before germination commences.{{cn|date=December 2021}}

The berries are eaten locally, either fresh and raw, fermented with traditional beer, or used with goats milk to make berry yoghurt. {{cn|date=December 2021}}


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|30em|refs=
{{reflist}}

<ref name="iucn status 18 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI). |author2=IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group |date=2019 |title=''Grewia occidentalis'' |volume=2019 |page=e.T147141452A147141454 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T147141452A147141454.en |access-date=18 November 2021}}</ref>

<ref name="PZA Sanbi">{{cite web|url=http://pza.sanbi.org/grewia-occidentalis|title=Grewia occidentalis {{!}} PlantZAfrica.com|website=pza.sanbi.org|date=July 2008|access-date=13 December 2021}}</ref>

<ref name="WFO">{{cite web|url=http://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-0000710147|title=Grewia occidentalis L. {{!}} WFO (2021)|website=www.worldfloraonline.org|date=2021|access-date=13 December 2021}}</ref>

<ref name="POWO Kew">{{cite web|url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:834417-1|title=Grewia occidentalis L. {{!}} Plants of the World Online|website=powo.science.kew.org|access-date=14 December 2021}}</ref>

}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{commonscat-inline|Grewia occidentalis}}
{{commonscat-inline|Grewia occidentalis}}
* {{AfricanPlants|Grewia occidentalis}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q1563777}}


[[Category:Afromontane]]
[[Category:Grewia|occidentalis]]
[[Category:Fruits originating in Africa]]
[[Category:Afromontane flora]]
[[Category:Flora of Lesotho]]
[[Category:Flora of Mozambique]]
[[Category:Flora of South Africa]]
[[Category:Flora of Swaziland]]
[[Category:Flora of Zimbabwe]]
[[Category:Trees of South Africa]]
[[Category:Trees of South Africa]]
[[Category:Trees of Cape Town]]
[[Category:Plants described in 1753]]
[[Category:Grewia| ]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus]]

Latest revision as of 05:51, 22 May 2024

Grewia occidentalis, the crossberry, is a species of deciduous tree, indigenous to Southern Africa.[1]

Grewia occidentalis
Fruits
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Genus: Grewia
Species:
G. occidentalis
Binomial name
Grewia occidentalis
Synonyms
  • Grewia chirindae Baker f.
  • Grewia microphylla Weim.
  • Grewia obtusifolia Eckl. & Zeyh.
  • Grewia trinervis E.Mey.
  • Grewia ulmifolia Salisb. [3]
Seeds of Grewia occidentalis

Description

[edit]

A dense, attractive shrub or small tree with dark green leaves 3-10m high, sometimes scrambling. The common names are "crossberry" and "four-corner." Its simple leaves are shiny, deep green and slightly fleshy, about 5-7cm long with small rounded teeth. The sepals and petals form unusual double star-shaped flowers, purple, mauve, pink or rarely white, 1.5-3cm across. Flower time is summer, followed by four-lobed fruits (drupes). These shiny reddish-brown berry-like fruits remain on the tree after maturity and attract fruit-eating birds.

Distribution and Habitat

[edit]

Grewia occidentalis occurs naturally across south-eastern Africa, where its range extends from Cape Town along the coast to Mozambique and inland to Zimbabwe.[4]

The native habitats of the plant are extremely varied, it is found in both the arid karoo of western South Africa and from the Highveld, and across the Afromontane forests of the Drakensberg range along the eastern coastline.[1]

Growing Grewia occidentalis

[edit]

This decorative garden plant tolerates both light frost and drought. It also grows in both full sun or shade. The root system is not aggressive and can therefore be planted near buildings and paving, and it is very good at attracting butterflies and birds to the garden.[citation needed] The crossberry is best propagated from seed, although even then it can be erratic, as usually the seed needs to pass through the gut of a monkey before germination commences.[citation needed]

The berries are eaten locally, either fresh and raw, fermented with traditional beer, or used with goats milk to make berry yoghurt. [citation needed]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Grewia occidentalis | PlantZAfrica.com". pza.sanbi.org. July 2008. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  2. ^ Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI).; IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group (2019). "Grewia occidentalis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T147141452A147141454. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T147141452A147141454.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  3. ^ "Grewia occidentalis L. | WFO (2021)". www.worldfloraonline.org. 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  4. ^ "Grewia occidentalis L. | Plants of the World Online". powo.science.kew.org. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
[edit]

Media related to Grewia occidentalis at Wikimedia Commons