Dilip Walse Patil

Scientific Name : Carissa carandas L.

Category : Angiosperms

Status : Alive

Habit : A large erect or subscandent shrub armed with stout, straight or somewhat curved spines with spines on upper branches simple and those on the lower branches are simple or much branched. Leaves : Opposite, coriaceous, elliptic or obovate, obtuse. Inflorescence : Terminal corymbose cymes. Flowers : White, odorous, bracteates, bracts linear. Calyx 5-lobed, hairy. Corolla salver-shaped, lobes 5. Stamens 5, included within the corolla-mouth, filaments very short, anthers linear, disk absent. Ovary superior, 2-celled, ovules 4 in each cell, stigma hairy. Fruit : Berry ovoid or ellipsoid, purplish-black when ripe, 4 or more seeded. Flowering and Fruiting time : December to April Significance : The fruits are edible and pickles are prepared from it. Roots are employed in cases of stomach ache as well as boiled in water and used against snake-bite. An infusion is given in fevers.