Egyptian carissa (Carissa spinarum, Mant. Pl. 2: 559 (1771))

Family: Apocynaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Mant. Pl. 2: 559 (1771)

Year: 1771

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Carissa

Vegetable: False

Observations: Africa to Indo-China, Australia to New Caledonia

Description

Egyptian carissa, known scientifically as Carissa spinarum, is a notable plant species that belongs to the Apocynaceae family. First described in the work of L. in “Mant. Pl. 2: 559” in 1771, this intriguing plant has since garnered attention for its diverse range and distinct characteristics.

Native to a vast geographical expanse, the Egyptian carissa spans the continents of Africa and Asia, stretching from Africa to Indo-China, and extending its presence to Australia and New Caledonia. This widespread distribution is a testament to the plant’s adaptability to various environmental conditions and climates.

Typically, Carissa spinarum is characterized by its thorny, densely branched structure, which often makes it a formidable shrub in its natural habitat. The plant produces small, star-shaped flowers that are generally white, adding a delicate aesthetic to its otherwise robust appearance. As the flowers mature, they give way to fruit that can range in color from red to purplish-black upon ripening, often drawing the interest of local wildlife and contributing to seed dispersal.

The Egyptian carissa is not only valued for its ornamental appeal but also for its utility in traditional medicine and local horticulture. Various parts of the plant are utilized in different cultures for their presumed medicinal properties, particularly in regions where the plant is native. The fruits, in some areas, are also consumed and are said to have a tart, tangy flavor when ripe.

Ecologically, this species plays a vital role in its native habitats, providing shelter and food for numerous animal species. Its dense foliage and spines offer protection for smaller creatures, while the flowers and fruits provide nourishment.

Overall, the Egyptian carissa, Carissa spinarum, stands out as a resilient and versatile plant with significant cultural, ecological, and ornamental value. Its extensive range across multiple continents underscores its adaptability and importance in the natural world.

Common Names

Eng: egyptian carissa, carandas-plum, currentbush, kunkerberry, num-num, bush plum, conkerberry, currant bush, wild karanda
Deu: karanda-pflaume
Por: carissa
Spa: ciruela de natal
San: avighna, karamarda
Ita: carissa
Fra: carisse
Tam: kalachedi, kalakkay
Ben: karamacha
Guj: karmarda
Hin: karunda
En: Egyptian carissa, Carandas-plum, Currentbush, Kunkerberry, Num-num, Bush Plum, Conkerberry, Currant Bush, Wild karanda, Arabian num num, Simple-spined num-num, Spiny-leaved monkey-orange
Bn: Karamacha
Zh: Jia hu ci, Tian jia hu ci
Fr: Carisse, Bois amer, Calac, Bois de ronde
De: Karanda-Pflaume
Gu: Karmarda
Hi: Karunda
It: Carissa
Pt: Carissa
Sa: Avighna, Karamarda
Es: Ciruela de Natal
Ta: Kalachedi, Kalakkay

Synonyms

• Jasminonerium densiflorum ((Baker) Kuntze)
• Carissa edulis var. microphylla ((Danguy ex Lecomte) Pichon)
• Carissa edulis var. horrida ((Pichon) Markgr.)
• Antura edulis (Forssk.)
• Carissa campenonii ((Drake) Palacký)
• Carissa cornifolia (Jaub. & Spach)
• Carissa yunnanensis (Tsiang & P.T.Li)
• Carissa revoluta (Scott Elliot)
• Jasminonerium inerme ((Vahl) Kuntze)
• Carissa dalzellii (Bedd.)
• Carissa pilosa (Schinz)
• Carissa edulis var. nummularis (Pichon)
• Carissa papuana (Markgr.)
• Carissa comorensis ((Pichon) Markgr.)
• Arduina xylopicron ((Thouars) Baill.)
• Carissa brownii var. angustifolia (Kempe)
• Jasminonerium edule ((Forssk.) Kuntze)
• Carissa tomentosa (A.Rich.)
• Carissa edulis ((Forssk.) Vahl)
• Arduina brownii (K.Schum.)
• Carissa edulis var. tomentosa ((A.Rich.) Stapf)
• Carissa villosa (Roxb.)
• Carissa densiflora (Baker)
• Carissa laotica (Pit.)
• Arduina inermis ((Vahl) K.Schum.)
• Carissa edulis var. lucubea (Pichon)
• Carissa edulis var. densiflora ((Baker) Pichon)
• Carissa ovata var. stolonifera (F.M.Bailey)
• Carissa edulis var. subtrinervia (Pichon)
• Arduina campenonii (Drake)
• Carissa axillaris (Roxb.)
• Carissa edulis var. revoluta ((Scott Elliot) Markgr.)
• Carissa carandas var. paucinervia ((A.DC.) Bedd.)
• Carissa brownii (F.Muell.)
• Jasminonerium tomentosum ((A.Rich.) Kuntze)
• Carissa edulis f. pubescens ((A.DC.) Pichon)
• Jasminonerium suavissimum ((Bedd. ex Hook.f.) Kuntze)
• Carissa madagascariensis (Thouars)
• Carissa laotica var. ferruginea (Kerr)
• Jasminonerium pubescens ((A.DC.) Kuntze)
• Carissa edulis var. septentrionalis (Pichon)
• Carissa edulis f. nummularis ((Pichon) Markgr.)
• Carissa edulis var. sechellensis ((Baker) Pichon)
• Carissa horrida (Pichon)
• Carissa opaca (Stapf ex Haines)
• Carissa obovata (Markgr.)
• Carissa stolonifera ((F.M.Bailey) F.M.Bailey ex Perrot & Vogt)
• Cabucala brachyantha (Pichon)
• Damnacanthus esquirolii (H.Lév.)
• Azima pubescens (Suess.)
• Antura hadiensis (J.F.Gmel.)
• Carissa congesta (Wight)
• Carissa coriacea (Wall. ex G.Don)
• Carandas edulis ((Forssk.) Hiern)
• Carissa pubescens (A.DC.)
• Carissa paucinervia (A.DC.)
• Carissa inermis (Vahl)
• Carissa ovata (R.Br.)
• Carissa cochinchinensis (Pierre ex Pit.)
• Jasminonerium dulce ((Schumach. & Thonn.) Kuntze)
• Carissa carandas (G.Lodd.)
• Carissa velutina (Domin)
• Carissa macrophylla (Wall. ex G.Don)
• Carissa dulcis (Schumach. & Thonn.)
• Carissa edulis subsp. madagascariensis ((Thouars) Pichon)
• Carissa scabra (R.Br.)
• Arduina laxiflora ((Benth.) K.Schum.)
• Jasminonerium laxiflorum ((Benth.) Kuntze)
• Carissa diffusa (Roxb.)
• Carissa xylopicron (Thouars)
• Carissa richardiana (Jaub. & Spach)
• Carissa laxiflora (Benth.)
• Carissa edulis var. comorensis (Pichon)
• Carissa carandas var. congesta ((Wight) Bedd.)
• Carissa ovata var. pubescens (F.M.Bailey)
• Jasminonerium madagascariense ((Thouars) Kuntze)
• Carissa edulis var. major (Stapf)
• Carissa brownii var. ovata ((R.Br.) Maiden & Betche)
• Carissa densiflora var. microphylla (Danguy ex Lecomte)
• Carissa edulis var. ambungana (Pichon)
• Carissa candolleana (Jaub. & Spach)
• Arduina edulis ((Forssk.) Spreng.)
• Jasminonerium xylopicron ((Thouars) Kuntze)
• Carissa suavissima (Bedd. ex Hook.f.)
• Carissa septentrionalis ((Pichon) Markgr.)
• Jasminonerium sechellense ((Baker) Kuntze)
• Strychnos pungens (Gagnep.)
• Carissa sechellensis (Baker)
• Jasminonerium ovatum ((R.Br.) Kuntze)
• Carissa hirsuta (Roth)
• Carissa oleoides (Markgr.)
• Carissa edulis subsp. continentalis (Pichon)
• Carissa gangetica (Stapf ex Gamble)
• Carissa lanceolata (R.Br.)

Distribution

• Aldabra (native)
• Andaman Is. (native)
• Angola (native)
• Bangladesh (native)
• Benin (native)
• Botswana (native)
• Burkina (native)
• Burundi (native)
• Cambodia (native)
• Cameroon (native)
• Cape Verde (native)
• Caprivi Strip (native)
• Central African Repu (native)
• Chad (native)
• China South-Central (native)
• Comoros (native)
• Congo (native)
• Djibouti (native)
• East Himalaya (native)
• Egypt (native)
• Eritrea (native)
• Ethiopia (native)
• Ghana (native)
• Guinea (native)
• Guinea-Bissau (native)
• India (native)
• Ivory Coast (native)
• Kenya (native)
• Laos (native)
• Madagascar (native)
• Malawi (native)
• Mali (native)
• Mauritius (native)
• Mozambique (native)
• Myanmar (native)
• Namibia (native)
• Nepal (native)
• New Caledonia (native)
• New Guinea (native)
• New South Wales (native)
• Nicobar Is. (native)
• Nigeria (native)
• Northern Provinces (native)
• Northern Territory (native)
• Oman (native)
• Pakistan (native)
• Queensland (native)
• Rodrigues (native)
• Rwanda (native)
• Réunion (native)
• Saudi Arabia (native)
• Senegal (native)
• Seychelles (native)
• Socotra (native)
• Somalia (native)
• Sri Lanka (native)
• Sudan (native)
• Tanzania (native)
• Thailand (native)
• Togo (native)
• Uganda (native)
• Vietnam (native)
• West Himalaya (native)
• Western Australia (native)
• Yemen (native)
• Zambia (native)
• Zaïre (native)
• Zimbabwe (native)

Additional Images

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Bark

Taken Feb 6, 2022 by Vågen (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 1, 2009 by riviere (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 25, 2020 by susan brown (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 6, 2020 by susan brown (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Nov 1, 2009 by riviere (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 1, 2009 by riviere (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 9, 2022 by Guibien Cleophas Zerbo (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 9, 2022 by Guibien Cleophas Zerbo (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 9, 2022 by Guibien Cleophas Zerbo (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Dec 19, 2021 by susan brown (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 21, 2022 by Naushad BM (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 6, 2019 by Tela Botanica − François Morand (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 8, 2022 by Will Clark (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 6, 2021 by YOGESH TOMAR (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Mar 24, 2011 by susan brown (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 2, 2021 by susan brown (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 2, 2021 by susan brown (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 22, 2020 by Sudhanshu Kumar (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 21, 2021 by Sudhanshu Kumar (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Dec 3, 2020 by Lawrence ole Ngugi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 21, 2021 by Sudhanshu Kumar (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 1, 2009 by riviere (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 1, 2009 by riviere (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 14, 2021 by Musa Umar (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Nov 27, 2020 by Sophie Macfarlane (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 18, 2022 by Abhishek Rajput (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 28, 2019 by Hédi BACHA (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 24, 2021 by Dennis Milanya (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 9, 2022 by Guibien Cleophas Zerbo (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77756-1)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5536282)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Carissa spinarum L.)

Specifications

Growth