Carissa macrocarpa (Eckl.) A. DC.
Natal plum, amatungulu
The Natal plum is a native of Africa, where it is found along the coast, from the southern tip of South Africa, along its eastern coast up through Mozambique.
Plants: These plants usually form dense, thorny shrubs, growing on sandy soil, but can produce small trees up to 13′ (4 m) high. Y-shaped thorns up to 1¾″ (5 cm) long are also present. Broken branches exude a non-toxic thick, milky latex.
Leaves: Broad-ovate, tough, glossy, and leathery, shiny and dark on the top, but paler below, ¾–2 ⨉ ½–1¼″ (2–6 ⨉ 1.5–3.5 cm), ending in a thorn-like point.
Flowers: White, 5-lobed, and tubular, up to 2″ (5 cm) around, and fragrant.
Fruits: Round or oval-shaped, up to 2½ ⨉ 1½″ (6.3 ⨉ 3.8 cm), a bright lighter shade of red at first, darkening with age.
Habitats: Coastal areas of South Africa, on sand dunes and on the edges of coastal forests.
Edibility: Fruits are tasty raw or as jams and jellies.
Online References:
Carissa grandiflora (E. Mey.) A. DC.
Bonsai. · 12/12/2016 · Bonsai West, Littleton, Massachusetts 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves |
| Subclass | Asteridae | A large class that encompasses asters |
| Order | Gentianales | Gentians, coffee, gardenias, frangipani, many others |
| Family | Apocynaceae | Dogbane family |
| Genus | Carissa | From the Sanskrit corissa, the name of one of the Indian species |
| Species | macrocarpa | With large fruits or seedpods |
Carissa macrocarpa description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.