ABOUT 'CARISSA SPINARUM' PLANT
Carissa spinarum
FAMILY:- APOCYNACEAE
BOTANICAL NAME:- Carissa spinarum
VERNACULAR NAMES:
SINHALA : Heen karamba, Karamba
TAMIL : Chiru-kila,Kilatti
DESCRIPTION :
An intricately branched, erect or occasionally slightly scandent tree. Spines simple or forked, 1.2-6 cm long.
LEAVES:- Short-petioled, the blade 1.5-5 cm long and 1.2-4 cm wide, broadly ovate or rhomboid, widest in or below the middle, as long as wide to twice as long as wide, acute or rounded at the base, acute and apiculate at the apex ceraceous.
FLOWERS:- Scentless.(Flowers throughout all the year)
FRUITS:- It is about 0.7-1.2 cm long, shining, dark radish black. (Jayaweera, 1981). 9
DISTRIBUTION:
It grows in India, Burma and Sri Lanka (Jayaweera, 1981). In Sri Lanka it is common in the dry zone, especially over-grazed and otherwise disturbed vegetation along roads and at the edge of forests.
PARTS: Fruits
FOOD USE: Riped dark radish black fruits are eaten fresh
