Natal plum

Carissa
Natal Plum (Carissa macrocarpa)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Gentianales
Family:	Apocynaceae
Genus:	Carissa L.
Diversity
20-30 species
Synonyms
Antura Forssk. Arduina Mill. ex L.

Carissa is a genus of about 20-30 species of shrubs or small trees native to tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Australia and Asia.

Conkerberry (C. spinarum) flowers in Shamirpet, Rangareddy district, Andhra Pradesh, India.

The species have maximum heights between 2 and 10 m tall, with spiny branches. The leaves are waxy and oblong, 3-8 cm long, and thick and leathery. The flowers are produced throughout most of the year; they are 1-5 cm diameter, with a five-lobed white or pink corolla, solitary or borne in clusters; some have a fragrance reminiscent of Gardenia. This makes them popular garden plants. The fruit is a plum-shaped berry, red to dark purple-black in different species, 1.5-6 cm in length, and containing up to 16 flat brown seeds. The fruit are edible but tart, with strawberry or apple-like flavour, and rich in Vitamin C, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus. The fruit of C. macrocarpa is especially delicious and is used to make jelly. They are eagerly consumed by birds, which also distribute the seed. If eaten before fully ripe, a bitter, latex-like substance is released from the skin. Other than the fruit, the plant is poisonous.^[1] Because of its abundance of sharp thorns, the plant is often used as a security hedge. Carissa species are grown from seed or cuttings and tolerate slight frost.^[2]

Selected species

• Carissa acuminata A.DC.
• Carissa arduina Lam.
• Carissa bispinosa Desf. ex Brenan
• Carissa boiviniana (Baill.) Leeuwenb.
• Carissa carandas – Karonda, Karanda, Karauda, Karaunda
• Carissa macrocarpa – Natal Plum, Large Num-Num, Noem-Noem (Afrikaans), amatungulu (Zulu
• Carissa oblongifolia Hochst.
• Carissa opaca Stapf ex Haines
• Carissa septentrionalis (Pichon) Markgr.
• Carissa spinarum – Conkerberry, Bush Plum, Currant Bush, "native currant", "black currant" (Australia), Wild Karanda (India), anwekety (Anmatyerr), merne arrankweye (Arrernte), nganango (Pintupi)

Some species formerly placed here are now in Acokanthera.

References

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