[2] It is one of some 325 species of Grewia in the family Malvaceae, and having a tropical African, Asian and Australian distribution.

[3] It is found in the arid regions of the Karoo and Eastern Cape, and generally prefers growing among dry scrub on rocky hillsides.

The species has a twiggy and rigid form, with grey bark, while abbreviated twigs give it a spiny appearance.

Like most Grewias its leaves are markedly 3-veined from the base; leaf margins are bluntly toothed or crenate to almost entire.

The hairy fruits are fleshy drupes some 20 mm across, reddish brown when ripe and either entire or deeply 2- to 4-lobed.