Carissa Spinarum

Scientific Name: Carissa Spinarum

Common Name: Carisse 

Family: Apocynaceae

Names in other languages: ; Luo: Ochuoga; Maasai: Olamuriaki, Ilamuriak (plural); Malakote: Mokalakala, Kaka mchangani; Marakwet: Leketeet (plural), Leketetwa, Leketetwo; Mbeere: Mukawa; Meru: Kamuria, Nkawa mwimbi (fruit); Nandi: Legetetwa, Legetetuet; Pokomo: Mlalanche; Pokot: Lokotetwo; Rendille: Godhoom boor; Samburu: Lamuriei, Lamuriai, Lmuria; Sanya: Gurura; Somali: Adishabel; Swahili: Mtandamboo; Taita: Kirimba, Ndandangoma; Teso: Emuriei; Tugen: Legetetik (fruit), Legatetwo (plant); Turkana: Ekamuria. 

General Information 

Carrisse is a much-branched spiny, evergreen shrub or small tree, sometimes adopting a scrambling habit. It grows from 1 - 5.5 meters tall. It is widely distributed in tropical regions of Africa, Southern Asia, Australia, and various islands of the Indian Ocean. 

Features of Carissa Spinarum that make it identifiable:  

• The Bark is light gray and fibrous 

• The Leaves are leathery, shiny dark green to 5 cm, tip pointed, base rounded, stalk and very short

• The flowers are bell-shaped with large, yellow petals with a dark maroon patch at the base 

• The fruit  are red and green. They are spherical shaped fruits with blackcurrant looking fruits as well

Uses (non medicinal) 

• Used as firewood 

• The fruits are eaten 

• Bark is used as an ornament 

• Used for soil conservation 

Medicinal Uses:  

• Roots are  used as an aphrodisiac 

• Heales ailment such as malaria, sickle cell anemia, hypertension, pain and asthma 

• Leaves are used for diabetes (ethanolic extract)