Carissa carandas – Bengal currant, Christ’s thorn, Carandas plum, Karonda, Karanda, Kanna, Karandang

Description

Carissa carandas is a species of flowering shrub in the family Apocynaceae. It produces berry-sized fruits that are commonly used as a condiment in Indian pickles and spices. It is a hardy, drought-tolerant plant that thrives well in a wide range of soils.

It is a woody shrub to a small tree, with climbing habit. It can grow up to 5 m tall. Leaves are broadly ovate to oblong in shape, measuring up to 7 cm long and 4 cm wide, with broadly cuneate to rounded base and apiculate apex. Stems have spines which are simple to slightly forked, measuring about 5 cm.