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Carissa macrocarpa 'Nana'
| Family Name: | Apocynaceae |
| Synonyms: | Carissa grandiflora 'Nana' |
| Common Name: | Dwarf Natal Plum, 大花假虎刺 |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Shrub |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Dwarf |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | South Africa |
|---|
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is an evergreen and dwarf shrub. It is woody, and thornless, unlike the more common Carissa macrocarpa. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Foliage are simple, dark green, thick and leathery. Its leaf blade is glossy, broadly ovate in shape, and oppositely arranged along the stem. |
| Flowers | Flowers are white, and has overlapping 5 petals, star-shaped, tubular, and fragrant. The petals are narrowly oblong. |
| Fruit | Fruits are scarlet in colour and oblong shaped. It is edible and has cranberry-like flavour. |
| Etymology | The genus Carissa is Sanskrit for Carissa carandas, Christ's thorn or carunda. The specific epithet macrocarpa means, large fruit. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Edible Plant Parts : Edible Fruits |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers, Ornamental Foliage, Ornamental Fruits, Fragrant (Flowers) (Night, Day) |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Container Planting, General, Coastal, Suitable for Rooftops, Suitable for Bonsai |
| Thematic Landscaping | Fragrant / Aromatherapy Garden |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Butterfly-Attracting |
|---|---|
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade, Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Saline Soils / Salt Spray, Drought Tolerant, Shallow Media |
| Propagation Method | Stem Cutting |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth, Glossy / Shiny, Thick |
| Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) | Green |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Opposite |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Sessile |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Ovate) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 4.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Dicot) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Stem Type & Modification | Woody |
|---|---|
| Root Type | Underground (Fibrous Root) |
| Specialised Storage Organ(s) | Aboveground |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | White |
|---|---|
| Flower Location | Terminal |
| Flower Symmetry | Radial |
| Individual Flower Shape | Tubular |
| Flowering Period | Free-Flowering |
| Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Black, Purple, Red |
|---|---|
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type | Fleshy Fruit |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 486 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 1782 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
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