This is a struggling shrub or small tree growing up to 3 metres tall, sometimes becoming a climbing shrub with woody knobs on the old stems. The tree is harvested from the wild and used locally as a food, medicine and source of wood. The fruits are sometimes sold in local markets. Grewia species are valued in many cultures for their medicinal virtues. The main medicinal action appears to come from the mucilage that is found in the leaves, stems and roots, which has been shown to have soothing and healing properties. Taken internally it is often used as a remedy for diarrhoea and dysentery, for example, whilst externally it is applied to wounds, cuts, ulcers, irritations etc. The plant can be taken as a simple infusion or decoction, or it can be applied topically as a poultice of the plant, or the mucilage can be extracted from the plant, if required, by maceration and then decoction. The bark is pounded and the powder used to treat wounds, sores and snakebite. The wood is hard and heavy. It is used for building poles, tool handles, walking sticks, pegs, withies, bows and clubs.