Forest num-num
Carissa bispinosa subsp. zambesiensis

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It can grow 5 m tall. It has spines that are slender and often forked. These can be 3 cm long. The young stems and branches are green. The leaves are opposite and broadly oval. They are glossy green above and paler underneath. The flowers are in clusters at the ends of branches. They are white and 1.3 cm across. They have a sweet scent. The fruit is oval and 1.6 cm long. It is fleshy and red when ripe.

There about 20-37 Carissa species. All Carissa species bear edible fruit. They grow in the tropics and subtropics.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in woodlands and on the edges of forests. In Zimbabwe it grows between 1,080-1,630 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, East Africa, Eswatini, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Mudyabveni, Mudzambara, Mumbingwa, Murambamhunga, Muruguru, Mutsamviringa, UmBenthankunzi, UmVusankunzi

Synonyms

Carissa bispinosa (L.) Desf. ex Brennan var. acuminata sensu R. B. Drummond;