Carissa ovata
R. Br.
Currant bush, Carissa, Kunkerberry
(c) Martin Rady, some rights reserved (CC BY)
(c) Martin Rady, some rights reserved (CC BY)
(c) Martin Rady, some rights reserved (CC BY)
What to Eat
Edible parts: Fruit
The fruit are eaten raw or cooked.
Where to Find It
A tropical plant. It can grow in coastal or inland areas. It does best in a shady position. In tropical Queensland it grows from sea level to 900 m altitude. It will grow in most soils. It is resistant to drought but sensitive to frost.
Australia*,
How to Identify
A small shrub. It grows 1-2 m high. The stems have spines along them. The leaves are opposite and oval. They can be blunt or pointed. The leaves are leathery and held stiffly. The leaves are shiny green and 1-3 cm long by 0.5-1.5 cm across. The flowers are white and have a sweet smell. They have 5 petals and are 0.6 cm across. They occur in upright clusters in the axils of upper leaves. The fruit is a berry which is oval and black. It is 1-1.5 cm long.
How to Grow
Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings. The flesh is removed from the seeds before planting.
Production
It is slow growing but lives a long time.
Notes
There about 20-37 Carissa species. All Carissa species bear edible fruit. They grow in the tropics and subtropics.
Names & Synonyms
Karey, Ulorin
References (26)
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