Ceriscoides turgida

Family: Rubiaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 8 m tall. It has spines. The leaves are opposite and clasp the stem. The leaves on lower branches are smaller and on higher branches are 4-9 cm long by 2-5 cm wide. They are thick and papery. The flowers have 5 parts. They are white and turn yellow with age. The fruit is a round berry 5 cm long by 4 cm wide. It has many seeds in a fleshy pulp.

It is used in medicine.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in dry deciduous forests in the Ghats in India.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, India, Indochina, Laos, Myanmar, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Thailand

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten. They are cooked and used as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Fruit, shoots, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants flower and fruit November to March in India.

Its other names

Local names

Bengeri, Bomonia, Bootbangari, Dhauuk, Dudri, Ghurgia, Karhar, Karumba, Kharkar, Khurpendra, Madanghanta, Malangarai, Malankara, Manjuda, Pandhara fendra, Peddabikki, Pendra, Tellakokkita, Thanella, Vellakara, Vellakarae, Yerribikki

Synonyms

Gardenia montana Roxb.; Gardenia turgida Roxb.; Gardenia turgida var. montana (Roxb.) Hook.f.; Randia turgida (Roxb.) Tirveng.;