Carissa
Carissa
Scientific name: Carissa carandas L.
Local/ Bangla name: ‘Karanca’
Taxonomic Position According to Cronquist (1981)
| Kingdom | : Plantae |
| Division | : Magnoliophyta |
| Class | : Magnoliopsida |
| Subclass | : Asteridis |
| Order | : Gentianales |
| Family | : Apocynaceae |
| Genus | : Carissa |
| Species | : C. carandis |
Botanical Description of Carissa
Habit: Generally shrubs
Root: Tap root system
Leaf: Simple, alternate, petiolate, lamina entire
Figure: Leaf Anatomy of Carissa
Stem: Strong, containing thorn
Figure: Stem Anatomy of Carissa
Inflorescence: Cluster
Flower: Complete, actinomporhic
Fruit: Berry
Chromosome number:
Economic Importance
The fruit is a rich source of iron, so it sometimes used in treatment of anemia. It contains a fair amount of vitamin.
Mature fruit is harvested for pickles. It contains pectin and accordingly is a useful ingredient in jelly, jam, syrup and chutney. Ripe fruits exude a white latex when severed from the branch. The roots of the plant are heavily branched, making it valuable for stabilizing eroding slopes. It has medicinal value too, it is taken for urine-related problems.