Thorny bramble
Canthium horridum

Family: Rubiaceae

What it is like

A spiny shrub. It grows 2-3 m high. It can be a small tree. The young branches are slender. The leaves are opposite and narrowly oval. They are 2-3 cm long by 1-3 cm wide. They taper to the tip and are rounded at the base. The flowers are small and white. They occur singly or as 2 together in the axils of leaves. The fruit are fleshy and 2-3 cm across. They turn yellow as they ripen.

There are about 200 Canthium species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. In southern China it grows at low elevations from sea level to 500 m above sea level. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bangladesh, China, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, SE Asia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The leaves (along with Cyclea barbata) are pounded into water to give a mucilage which is used as a sweet jelly, eaten cold. Sweets are made from the yellow acid berries.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Bestru, Bulang, Bulangan, Bulang kechil, Bulang tikus, Dayap-dayap, Kait-kait, Kaliyage, Khlet nuu, Kuliak-daga, Lep rawk, Ma kao nei, Mimisan, Naam leprok, Nam lep rawk, Ning zhou jian, Selungkit, Ya dai si

Synonyms

Canthium horridum var. xanthocaulon (Miq.) Miq.; Canthium pauciflorum Blanco; Canthium scandens var. xanthocaulon Miq.; Dondisia horrida (Blume) Korth.; Hyptianthere rhamnoides Zoll. & Moritzi; Plectronia horrida (Blume) K. Schum. Illegit.; Plectronia horrida (Blume) Benth. & Hook. f. ex Kurz;