Description: G. occidentalis is a scrambling shrub (or small tree) that grows along the forest margins, bushveld, grassland, and thicket habitats. It has lanceolate to ovate leaves with finely toothed margins, star-shaped mauve or pink flowers, and four-lobed berry fruits that turn reddish brown to purple when ripe.  

Uses: 

• The fruits are eaten as food.
• The roots are ground and mixed with sugar and fermented for approximately 2 days and administered as a drink. 

• The roots are used to treat gynaecological and obstetrics ailments The roots are chopped and mixed with the roots of Bridelia cathartica, Crotalaria monteiroi, Garcinia livingstonei, and Rhoicissus digitata and boiled, cooled, then strained. The decoction is taken orally to treat dysmenorrhoea, menorrhagia, infertility, oligomenorrhoea, premature birth and to cleanse the blood when pregnant.
• The root decoction is used in medicines taken to facilitate childbirth delivery. 

• The plant is used by males as a tonic to cleanse their genital organs, sometimes as an extended treatment of sexually transmitted infection. The plant is used to make a tonic taken by men as a drink, emetic, and enema.
• The roots are used to make a decoction that is used by men to produce good quality sperms.
• The bark decoction is used to treat impotence.

• The plant is used to make an infusion that is used externally to wash wounds. 
  • The bruised bark is soaked in hot water and is used to dress wounds. 
• The leaves are made into a poultice that is used to treat head sores that form scabs of fungus. The leaves are also made into an infusion that is applied on the skin to treat sores.

• The roots are used to treat bladder ailments. 
• The pounded bark is used to make soap for washing heads and believed to prevent hair from going grey.

References and further reading:

• Afolayan, A.J., Grierson, D.S., Kambizi, L., Madamombe, I., Masika, P.J. and Jäger, A.K., 2002. In vitro antifungal activity of some South African medicinal plants. South African Journal of Botany, 68(1), pp.72-76.
• Boon, R., 2010. Pooley’s trees of eastern of South Africa: A complete guide, second edition. Flora and Fauna Publications, Durban. 
• Bryant, A.T., 1966. Zulu medicine and medicine men. C. Struik, Cape Town (originally published in 1909 in the Annals of Natal Museum). 
• De Wet, H. and Ngubane. S.C., 2014. Traditional herbal remedies used by women in a rural community in northern Maputaland (South Africa) for the treatment of gynecology and obstetrics complaints. South African Journal of Botany 94, pp. 129–139.
• Fox, F.W. and Norwood Young, M.E., 1982. Food from the veld. Delta Books, Johannesburg.
• Gerstner, J., 1939. A preliminary checklist Zulu names of plants with short notes. Bantu Studies 13.
• Grierson, D.S. and Afolayan, A.J., 1999. An ethnobotanical study of plants used for the treatment of wounds in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 67(3), pp.327-332.
• Hulme, M.M., 1954. Wild flowers of Natal. Shutter and Shooter, Pietermaritzburg. 
• Johnson, D.N., 2014. KwaNobamba Royal Residence Biodiversity Report. 
• Reshma, S., Kavya, D., Anjali, G. and Meenakshi, B., 2011. Medicinal potential of various species of Grewia. International Journal of Forest Usufructs Management, 12(2), pp.14-18.
• Van Wyk, B. and Van Wyk, P. 1997. Field guide to trees of Southern Africa. Struik Publisher.
• Walker, J., 1996. Wild flowers of KwaZulu-Natal. W.R. Walker Family Trust, Pinetown. 
• Watt, J.M. and Breyer-Brandwijk, M.G., 1962. Medicinal and poisonous plants of southern and eastern Africa, second edition. Livingstone, London.