The large flowering plant genus Grewia is today placed by most authors in the mallow family Malvaceae. Formerly, Grewia was placed in either the family Tiliaceae or the Sparrmanniaceae. The genus was named by Carl Linnaeus, in honour of the botanist Nehemiah Grew (1641-1712) from England. Grew was one of the leading plant anatomists and microscope researchers of his time, and his study of pollen laid the groundwork for modern-day palynology.

Grewia pondoensis commonly known as Pondo Cross-Berry is a near threatened South African endemic species from the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal Provinces where it can be found growing from Oribi Gorge to Port St Johns. It forms a scrambling shrub or small tree. It has leathery dark green leaves. From summer to autumn it bears large pink flowers which are followed by four-lobed edible fruits which are eaten by birds and people.