About Grewia robusta Burch.
Grewia robusta Burch. is a multi-stemmed shrub or small tree that grows up to 3 meters high. It is endemic to the semi-desert Karoo region of South Africa, and is very similar to Grewia occidentalis. It belongs to the Grewia genus, which contains around 325 species in the family Malvaceae; the genus as a whole has a distribution across tropical Africa, Asia, and Australia. Grewia robusta occurs in the arid regions of the Karoo and Eastern Cape, and generally prefers to grow among dry scrub on rocky hillsides. This species has a twiggy, rigid growth form with grey bark, and its shortened twigs give it a spiny appearance. Its leathery leaves grow in fascicles, reach about 25 mm in length, and have very short petioles. Like most Grewia species, its leaves are distinctly 3-veined from the base. Leaf margins are bluntly toothed, crenate, or almost entire. The flowers of Grewia robusta are small, bright pink, and fragrant. Its hairy fruits are fleshy drupes around 20 mm across; they are reddish brown when ripe, and can be unlobed or deeply 2- to 4-lobed. This species is a favored browsing food for Black rhinos.
