Wild jessamine, Carray cheddie
Canthium coromandelicum

Family: Rubiaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It grows 5 m tall. It has thorns. The small branches are 4 angled. The bark is grey. The spines are 1-3 cm long. The leaves are opposite and the bases overlap. The leaves are oval and 2-4 cm long by 1-3 cm wide. The flowers are greenish. The fruit are 1-1.5 cm across. They are a flattened round shape and yellow or orange when ripe.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in dry forests. It grows up to 750 or 1,000 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, SE Asia, Sri Lanka

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten raw. The young leaves are eaten as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves

How it is grown

Plants are used as a hedge.

In southern India it flowers and fruits between April to June.

Its other names

Local names

Babu jamal, Bahibali, Bellakarai, Kara, Karai, Karbit, Karemullu, Kari kaare-gida, Karkate, Katbor, Kattakara, Kayili, Kolhapur, Nandre, Ollepode, Totadi

Synonyms

Canthium parviflorum Lam.; Gmelina coromandelina Burm.f.; Paederia valli-kara Juss.; Plectronia parviflora (Lam.) Bedd.; Webera tetrandra Willd.;