Grewia hirsuta seeds
Grewia hirsuta seeds
Grewia hirsuta originates from China and India. In the old Indian Language Sanskrit the plant is known as Nagbala. The Hindus call it Kukurbicha. The genus name Grewia was named by Linnaeus after the English Botanist Nehemiah Grew to honor him and his work in botany. Grewia hirsuta grows as a small shrub or tree and occurs until 4500 m above sea level. The branches of Grewia hirsuta have grayish to brownish hairs. The petioles are also pubescent. The leaves are lanceolate, dark green and leathery. They get maximally 14 cm long and 5 cm wide. The whole leaves is felt- like hairy. The leaf margin is serrate. The venation is light green and very good visible in contrast to the dark green leaf. The flowers of Grewia hirsuta are clustered in the leaf axilla. The flowers look like small stars. They are small, white and actinomorphic. The yellow stamens in the middle attract the attention. The fruits get yellow when they are ripe. They are eatable and have a very sweetish taste. The fruits contain mostly four seeds. In Ayurveda a traditionally Indian art of healing the Nagbala is used against heart diseases. In addition the plant is used against diarrhea and can help against headache. From outside the roots can be used to avoid inflammation and suppuration of wounds. Furthermore Grewia hirsuta is used as an aphrodisiac and shall have an anti ageing effect. It is quite common to take the pulverized roots together with milk. Elephants like to eat the whole plant. Also some caterpillars of butterflies need Grewia hirsuta as a food source.
Before planting, the seeds should be put in warm water for about a day. After that they can be inserted into the substrate. At a temperature of about 25°C germination takes place after 3 to 6 weeks in the constantly moist substrate. Grewia hirusta is not winter hardy.
