Scientific
name
Grewia tenax (ferruginea1) (Forssk) Fiori
Family name
Tiliaceae
Local name(s)
Fo (Afargna), Lenkoata (Amargna),
Bururi, Dhoqonu, Lensa (Oromiffa), Quetata (Agonia)
General description
A shrub or small tree up to 7m. The
young shoots and the flowers are covered with red-brown hairs. The leaves
are oval and the tip is pointed or rounded. The edge of the leave is toothed.
The vein network is very clear below. The flowers are yellow, purple or
white, solitary or in twos or fours, in a terminal head about 5cm long,
the central flowers opening first, many stamens in the center. The fruit
is in 4 parts, each rounded and fleshy about 5mm across.
Edible part(s),
preparation methods and palatability
Fruits are edible. The
ripe fruits are collected and eaten raw. The fruits are sweet and may be eaten
either as a whole or chewed and only the sweet juice is swallowed. If large
amounts of seeds are ingested they may cause severe constipation. Fruits may be
pounded, died and stored. Shepherds and children are the primary consumer
category of this type of fruits (Wag Hamra). Mostly children collect and consume
the fruits in normal times, but adults may consume as well in food shortage
periods (Afar). The fruits are always collected and consumed between September
and April, and everybody enjoys its taste also in good times. G .tenax -
ferruginea can give fruits three times a year, provided there is sufficient
rain. If the main crop harvest is delayed its fruits help to fill the food gap.
Agroecology
G. tenax or ferruginea (?) is a widespread
shrub, found in semi-arid woodland in dry and moist mid- and lowlands (1,000
- 2,300m).
Propagation
method(s)
Propagates by seedlings.
Sample location(s)
(1) Talalak River, Dewe Woreda, Zone
5, Afar; (2) Siska Kebele, Zequala Woreda (Wag Hamra)
Remarks
The leaves are also used as animal
fodder and the wood can be used as firewood and for construction purposes
(local construction & farm tools). The bark is sometimes used to produce
local ropes for construction purposes.
1 Parts of the following
description have been taken from Bekele-Tesemma et al., 1993: p. 264/265 and
Maundu et al., 1999: p. 140
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