Grewia retinervis Burret

Small bush 1-2 m tall, usually branching low down; young stems brownish pubescent or glabrescent, older branches somewhat compressed not becoming 4-angled and grooved. Leaf-blade 20-50 x 10-28 mm, elliptic-oblong, acute or rounded at the apex, rounded at the base, margins serrate, sparsely pubescent above or glabrous, nerves reticulate on both sides, slightly pubescent below; petiole 1-3 mm long, pubescent; stipules about 2.5 mm long, subulate, pubescent. Inflorescences all axillary; peduncles 3-6 mm long, pubescent; pedicels 2-3 together, 2-4 mm long, pubescent; basal bracts about 2 mm long, entire, lanceolate-triangular, pubescent. Buds oblong, somewhat sulcate. Sepals 6-8 x 1 mm, lorate, appressed pubescent outside, glabrous within. Petals yellow, 5-7 x 1.5 mm, narrowly oblong or lorate, with a basal nectariferous claw 1 mm long and circumvillous within. Androgynophore 1 mm long, glabrous, not extended above the node, rather cupular at the apex and clasping the ovary base. Ovary appressed pubescent, never lobed; style 8-9 mm long, glabrous; stigmas usually 4, subulate. Fruit about 8 mm in diam., globose, never lobed, shining, reddish brown, minutely and sparsely stellate-pubescent.

A tropical plant. It grows in dry sandy places. It is often in Kalahari sand. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall between 200-600 mm. It grows between 410-1950 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

The fruit are eaten raw or dried. The fruit can be dried and stored. The fruit can be crushed and made into a drink.

Can be grown by cuttings or seedlings. Seeds needs soaking.