Simple-spined num-num
Carissa spinarum
Family: Apocynaceae
What it is like
An evergreen shrub. It grows 5 m tall. It is thorny. It can be climbing. The leaves are narrowly oval and leathery and have soft hairs. The flowers are white and have a scent. They are in groups at the ends of branches. The fruit are red berries. They are about 1 cm across.
There about 20-37 Carissa species. All Carissa species bear edible fruit. They grow in the tropics and subtropics. Leeuwenberg has put many Carissa into Carissa spinarum. This is not necessarily accepted.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows in dry regions. It can grow in arid places. It grows in south India. In the Himalayas it grows up to 6,000 m above sea level. It occurs in the Western Ghats in India. Rajasthan. In Sichuan and Yunnan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Asia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Cuba, East Africa, Ethiopia, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Myanmar, Northeastern India, NW India, SE Asia, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Uganda, West Indies
How it is used for food
The ripe fruit can be eaten raw or used for tarts. They are also used for juice, The unripe fruit are used in pickles.
Edible parts
Fruit, spice
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings. It is a good hedge plant.
It flowers throughout the year.
Its other names
Local names
Achuga, Acuga, Agam, Agama, Agasma, Agamisa, Agamsa, Agamta, Agempsa, Akamitta, Almi, Ambelto, Anka, Ankhukoli, Bon-karamcha, Chiru, Chiru-kila, Chothay kalakai, Dudkoli, Emuriel, Emuriet, Gama, Gan, Garaunda, Granda, Hagalcho, Hagamssa, Heen karamba, Jangli-Karaunda, Jugli karonda, Kalakai, Kalive chettu, Kalivi, Karamadika, Karamcha, Karanda, Karaunda, Karonda, Khanzat, Khunti, Kila, Kilatti, Kismis hitam, Kol, Lade, Muchakerech, Mukawa, Mutote, Ngawa, Ndote, Nzunu, Prom banla, Sana karenda, Sirakula, Sirukallakai, Soha, Titita
Synonyms
Antura edulis Forssk.; Antura hadiensis J.F.Gmel. [Illegitimate]; Arduina brownii K.Schum.; Arduina campenonii Drake; Arduina edulis (Forssk.) Spreng.; Arduina inermis (Vahl) K.Schum.; Arduina laxiflora (Benth.) K.Schum.; Arduina xylopicron (Thouars) Baill.; Azima pubescens Suess.; Cabucala brachyantha Pichon; Carandas edulis (Forssk.) Hiern; Carissa abyssinica R. Br.; Carissa axillaris Roxb.; Carissa brownii F.Muell. [Illegitimate]; Carissa brownii var. angustifolia Kempe; Carissa campenonii (Drake) Palacky; Carissa candolleana Jaub. & Spach; Carissa carandas Lodd.; Carissa carandas var. congesta (Wight) Bedd.; Carissa carandas var. paucinervia (A.DC.) Bedd.; Carissa cochinchinensis Pierre ex Pit.; Carissa comorensis (Pichon) Markgr.; Carissa congesta Wight; Carissa coriacea Wall. ex G.Don; Carissa coriacea Wall.; Carissa cornifolia Jaub. & Spach; Carissa dalzellii Bedd.; Carissa densiflora Baker; Carissa densiflora var. microphylla Danguy ex Lecomte; Carissa diffusa Roxb.; Carissa dulcis Schumach. & Thonn.; Carissa edulis (Forssk.) Vahl; Carissa gangetica Stapf ex Gamble; Carissa hirsuta Roth; Carissa horrida Pichon; and others Carissa inermis Vahl; Carissa lanceolata Dalzell [Illegitimate]; Carissa lanceolata R.Br.; Carissa laotica Pit.; Carissa laotica var. ferruginea Kerr; Carissa laxiflora Benth.; Carissa macrophylla Wall. ex G.Don; Carissa macrophylla Wall.; Carissa madagascariensis Thouars; Carissa mitis Heynh. ex A.DC.; Carissa obovata Markgr.; Carissa oleoides Markgr.; Carissa opaca Stapf ex Haines; Carissa ovata R.Br.; Carissa ovata var. pubescens F.M.Bailey; Carissa ovata var. stolonifera F.M.Bailey; Carissa papuana Markgr.; Carissa paucinervia A.DC.; Carissa pilosa Schinz [Illegitimate]; Carissa pubescens A.DC.; Carissa revoluta Scott-Elliot; Carissa richardiana Jaub. & Spach; Carissa scabra R.Br.; Carissa sechellensis Baker; Carissa septentrionalis (Pichon) Markgr.; Carissa spinarum Lodd. ex A.DC. [Illegitimate]; Carissa stolonifera (F.M.Bailey) F.M.Bailey ex Perrot & Vogt [Invalid]; Carissa suavissima Bedd. ex Hook.f.; Carissa tomentosa A.Rich. [Illegitimate]; Carissa velutina Domin; Carissa villosa Roxb.; Carissa xylopicron Thouars; Carissa yunnanensis Tsiang & P.T.Li; Damnacanthus esquirolii H.Lév.; Jasminonerium densiflorum (Baker) Kuntze; Jasminonerium dulce (Schumach. & Thonn.) Kuntze; Jasminonerium edule (Forssk.) Kuntze; Jasminonerium inerme (Vahl) Kuntze; Jasminonerium laxiflorum (Benth.) Kuntze; Jasminonerium madagascariense (Thouars) Kuntze; Jasminonerium ovatum (R.Br.) Kuntze; Jasminonerium pubescens (A.DC.) Kuntze; Jasminonerium sechellense (Baker) Kuntze; Jasminonerium suavissimum (Bedd. ex Hook.f.) Kuntze; Jasminonerium tomentosum (A.Rich.) Kuntze [Illegitimate]; Jasminonerium xylopicron (Thouars) Kuntze;