From Asit Ghosh via email:

Here are my photos to share of Phalsa (Grewia asiatica
or Grewia subinaequalis) from the Tiliaceae family.

A native of the Indian subcontinent, the deciduous
Phalsa is so rare here in the US that only a handful
of rare fruit enthusiasts seem to be aware of it.

Used extensively in Folk medicine in its native land,
the Vitamin C enriched Phalsa has now become the
subject of renewed medical research in many countries
of the world.

The most talked about Phalsa tree on public property,
a beautiful and healthy specimen in Fruit & Spice Park
in Homestead, Florida, got decimated by Hurricane
Andrew in August, 1992.

Fruits were from a 4-ft tall, 16-month old tree
growing in a 3-gallon pot in Rockledge, Florida in
Zone 10a.

Photos were taken in March, May, September and
October.

Product Look-Up (PLU) code is still unassigned.
===========================================
New leaves in May.
http://plantsdatabase.com/showpicture/41879

New leaves, blossoms and a Ladybug in March.
http://plantsdatabase.com/showpicture/41880

2nd crop: blossoms, new & dead leaves in October
http://plantsdatabase.com/showpicture/41881

Flowers are emerging in March.
http://plantsdatabase.com/showpicture/41882

Close-up of a flower opening in March
http://plantsdatabase.com/showpicture/41883

2nd crop: close-up of 2 fully-opened flowers in September
http://plantsdatabase.com/showpicture/41884
========================================================
Asit K. Ghosh
Rockledge, Florida 32955
Zone 10a


http://plantsdatabase.com/showpicture/41879

Here are my remaining 6 photos to share of Phalsa
(Grewia asiatica or Grewia subinaequalis) from the
Tiliaceae family.

These 6 photos combined with the previous 6, cover
the complete life-cycle of a Phalsa.

Fruits were from a 4-ft tall, 16-month old tree
growing in a 3-gallon pot in Rockledge, Florida in
Zone 10a.

Photos were taken in March, May, September and
October.
==============================================
2nd crop: A Phalsa is on its way in October.
http://plantsdatabase.com/showpicture/41885

One tiny Phalsa and one small Phalsa in April.
http://plantsdatabase.com/showpicture/41888

A medium-size immature Phalsa in May
http://plantsdatabase.com/showpicture/41890

A semi-ripe Phalsa against a dead yellow leaf in May.
http://plantsdatabase.com/showpicture/41891

A fully-ripe Phalsa in May.
http://plantsdatabase.com/showpicture/41892

Phalsas in all stages of growths in May.
http://plantsdatabase.com/showpicture/41893

**************************************************
An excellent paper on Phalsa research in the US was
authored by

Dr. Anand Yadav
Professor Of Horticulture
Fort Valley State University
Fort Valley, Georgia

PHALSA: A POTENTIAL NEW SMALL FRUIT FOR GEORGIA

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1999/v4-348.html
******************************************************
Asit K. Ghosh
Rockledge, Florida 32955
Zone 10a

My 2-year old, 7-ft tall Phalsa tree (Grewia asiatica) has over abundance of the fruits this year.

Almost 50 percent of the fruits had already been eaten by birds by the time these photos were taken on 9th and 10th July.

Despite the presence of 3 generously stocked Bird Feeders and a Bird Bath, Birds are creating a racket in the tree all day long picking the ripe, sweet fruits. No thanks to birds of all kinds, I had been able to find no more than 4 or 5 fully ripe, sweet fruits so far for my own consumption.

9th July
http://www.asitghosh.com/MISC/asitphalsa800sm.jpg

10th July
http://www.asitghosh.com/MISC/asitphalsa802sm.jpg

10th July
http://www.asitghosh.com/MISC/asitphalsa803sm.jpg


Asit
http://www.asitghosh.com

Phalsa:FRUITS

Phalsa #8

Phalsa #9

Phalsa #10