Botanical name: Grewia asiatica L. - [ (GREW-ee-uh) named for Nehemiah Grew (1641-1712), an English physician and author; (a-see-AT-ee-kuh) of or from Asia ] Synonyms: Grewia conferta Warb. ex Burret • Grewia hainesiana Hole • Grewia humilis Wallich ex Mast • Grewia subinaequalis DC. • Grewia vestita Mast • Grewia vestita Wall. • Microcos lateriflora L. Family: Tiliaceae (phalsa family) - [ (til-ee-AH-see-ay) named for Tilia genus, the phalsa family ]

Common names of Grewia asiatica: Bengali: phalsa, shunkri • English: phalsa • Filipino: bariuan-gulod • Hindi: फालसा phalsa • Khmer: pophlië • Lao: nhap (Sino-Tibetan) • Marathi: पळशी palshi, फालसा phalsa • Sanskrit: परूषक paroushak • Tamil: பலிசமரம் palicamaram • Thai: lai khon, po tao hai, yap khee thao • Urdu: फालसा falsa • Vietnamese: c[of]-ke-[as], cò-ke-á

Origin: India, Nepal, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand

The ripe fruits are sweet with a pleasant blend of acid and having a cooling effect on body. These are tonic and aphrodisiac. The fruits allay thirst and burning sensation, remove and cure inflammations. These are said to be good for heart and blood disorders, fevers and diarrhoea. The fruit is also good for the troubles of throat. The unripe fruits remove vata, kapha and biliousness.

The bark of phalsa plant cures biliousness and vata. It also cures urinary troubles. An infusion of the bark is used as a demulcent.

The root bark is used by Santhal tribals use the root bark for rheumatism.

The leaves are used as an application to pustular eruptions. Buds of phalsa are also prescribed by some physicians.

Courtesy: - Florabase - the Western Australia Flora - eFlora - World Agro Forestry - A Dictionary, Marathi and English - Tamil Lexicon