Editing Grewia triflora

{| class="wikitable" style="float: right; width: 320px; margin-left: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 1em;"
! colspan="2" style="background: #e8e8e8;" | Masokote (''Grewia triflora'')
|-
! Scientific name
| ''Grewia triflora'' <sup id="cite_ref-1">[[#cite_note-1|[1]]]</sup>
|-
! Genus
| [[Grewia]]
|-
! Family
| [[Malvaceae]] <sup>[[#cite_note-1|[1]]]</sup>
|-
! Order
| [[Malvales]] <sup>[[#cite_note-1|[1]]]</sup>
|-
! Native range
| Southeastern Kenya to Mozambique, the Comoros and Madagascar <sup>[[#cite_note-1|[1]]]</sup>
|-
! Habit
| Shrub or small tree, up to about 10 m <sup id="cite_ref-2">[[#cite_note-2|[2]]]</sup>
|-
! Flowers
| Yellow flowers in small clusters <sup>[[#cite_note-2|[2]]]</sup>
|-
! Fruit
| Unlobed globose drupe, about 7–10 mm across, dark brown when ripe <sup>[[#cite_note-2|[2]]]</sup>
|}

''Grewia triflora'', known as Masokote, is a shrub or small tree of low-elevation coastal forest, thicket and disturbed coastal vegetation in southeastern Africa and nearby islands. Kew accepts the name; ''Grewia vaughanii'' is a documented synonym. <sup>[[#cite_note-1|[1]]]</sup>

== Description ==

Botanical accounts describe ''Grewia triflora'' as a shrub or small tree reaching about 10 m. It is associated with coastal forest and thicket, often on coral rag, from sea level to low elevations. A dated Mozambique field record observed an unplanted, spreading tree about 4 m tall in light shade on sandy soil at 64 m, showing the range of form that can occur in a coastal woodland setting. <sup>[[#cite_note-1|[1]]]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-3">[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup>

The flowers are yellow and occur in small axillary cymes, commonly with one to three flowers. The flowers are described as bisexual. <sup>[[#cite_note-2|[2]]]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-4">[[#cite_note-4|[4]]]</sup>

The fruit is an unlobed globose or subglobose drupe about 7–10 mm in diameter, or 8–10 mm long and 8–9 mm wide in the Flora of Tropical East Africa treatment. It changes from greyish green to dark brown and has short stellate hairs. <sup>[[#cite_note-2|[2]]]</sup>

== Cultivation ==

=== Soil and water ===

In its recorded range, the species grows in coastal forest, thicket, coral-rag vegetation and sandy coastal woodland. A freely draining medium with a mineral or sandy component is therefore a reasonable habitat-based starting point, with organic matter added without allowing the root zone to remain saturated. The Mozambique field record places a plant in sandy soil in a light-shaded, degraded coastal woodland mosaic. These are habitat-based cultivation inferences rather than measured soil or irrigation requirements for the species. <sup>[[#cite_note-1|[1]]]</sup><sup>[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup>

=== Sun and humidity ===

The species is recorded from coastal forest and thicket, and a field record found it in light shade. Begin an establishing plant in bright filtered light or light shade with protection from drying wind; stronger exposure can be tested after it has made a stable root system. Coastal conditions suggest useful atmospheric humidity, but open airflow remains important during wet weather. This is a habitat-based cultivation inference, not a fixed shade limit. <sup>[[#cite_note-1|[1]]]</sup><sup>[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup>

=== Seasonal changes ===

The native setting is low-elevation coastal vegetation with a seasonal flowering record in Kenya from November through June. In cultivation, a wet–dry rhythm is a sensible starting point: maintain root-zone moisture while active growth and flowering are underway, and place greater emphasis on drainage and airflow during prolonged wet periods. The timing is regional and should not be treated as a universal calendar for every climate. <sup>[[#cite_note-1|[1]]]</sup><sup>[[#cite_note-4|[4]]]</sup>

== Propagation ==

As a member of ''Grewia'', it is reasonable to begin with fresh seed and keep the sowing medium from drying while germination is being tested. The genus-level guidance also suggests that stored seed may have a hard coat and may benefit from scarification and warm soaking; heel cuttings may be attempted as an alternative. These procedures are genus-level starting points, not demonstrated ''G. triflora'' success rates. <sup id="cite_ref-5">[[#cite_note-5|[5]]]</sup>

== Flowering, fruiting, and harvest ==

The flowers are yellow, bisexual and borne in small one- to three-flowered cymes. In Kenya, flowering is recorded from November to June. <sup>[[#cite_note-2|[2]]]</sup><sup>[[#cite_note-4|[4]]]</sup>

The fruit changes from greyish green to dark brown as it ripens. It is small, globose or subglobose, and covered with short stellate hairs; the recorded size is about 7–10 mm across, with one floristic treatment giving 8–10 mm in length and 8–9 mm in width. Dark-brown color is the clearest recorded ripeness marker. <sup>[[#cite_note-2|[2]]]</sup>

== Fruit and uses ==

The fruits are reported as edible in the PROTA account and the Flora of Tropical East Africa treatment. The examined descriptions do not characterize flavor, texture, storage life or yield, so those qualities should not be assumed from the fruit's small size or appearance. <sup>[[#cite_note-2|[2]]]</sup><sup>[[#cite_note-4|[4]]]</sup>

== References ==

* <span id="cite_note-1"></span>[[#cite_ref-1|↑]] '''[1]''' [https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:834603-1/general-information Grewia triflora (Bojer) Walp. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science].

* <span id="cite_note-2"></span>[[#cite_ref-2|↑]] '''[2]''' [https://plants.jstor.org/compilation/Grewia.triflora Grewia triflora in Global Plants | Flora of Tropical East Africa].

* <span id="cite_note-3"></span>[[#cite_ref-3|↑]] '''[3]''' [https://mozambiqueflora.com/speciesdata/species-record.php?record_id=112093 Flora of Mozambique, individual record 112093: Grewia triflora].

* <span id="cite_note-4"></span>[[#cite_ref-4|↑]] '''[4]''' [https://plantuse.plantnet.org/en/Grewia_triflora_(PROTA) Grewia triflora (PROTA) | Pl@ntUse].

* <span id="cite_note-5"></span>[[#cite_ref-5|↑]] '''[5]''' [https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Grewia+triflora Grewia triflora - Useful Tropical Plants].

[[Category:Grewia]]
[[Category:Malvaceae]]
[[Category:Malvales]]