Karoo num-num, Black num-num
Carissa haematocarpa

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

A bush or small tree. It can be 3.5 m tall. The crown is dense and round with many branches. The young branches are green and flexible. The shoots have a pair of spines at their ends. The leaves are in opposite pairs. The pairs are at right angles to each other along the twig. Leaves are 1.5-2.8 cm long by 1.5 cm wide. They are usually widest at the base and tapering slightly to the point. They are shiny dark green above and paler underneath. The flowers are small and white. They are shaped like tubes in short heads at the ends of twigs. The fruit are round berries. They are 0.6-1 cm long and black or purple when ripe. There are one or two seeds.

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

Where it is found

A subtropical plant. It occurs in dry bush.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten. They leave a bluish stain on the lips.

They are eaten especially by children.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings.

Trees are slow growing. They can take 40 years to get 60 cm high in harsh settings.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Arduina haematocarpa Eckl.; Arduina ferox E. Mey.; Carissa ferox (E. Mey.) A DC.; Jasminonerium haematocarpum (Eckl.) Kintze; Jasminonerium ferox (E. Mey.) Kuntze;