Volume 7 > Part 1 > Year 1999 > Page 11 > Apocynaceae > Carissa

2. Carissa spinarum L.wfo-0000803913

Mant. Pl. 2: 559. 1771; Tsiang & P.T.Li, Fl. Reip. Pop. Sin. 63; 10. 1977; Li et al., Fl. China 16: 146. 1995. Fig. 4.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Synonyms & Citations :

Description : Climber, shrub or small tree to 5 m tall. Branchlets glabrous or sparsely puberulent, becoming glabrous. Leaves: petiole 1.5–4.5 mm long; blade coriaceous, ovate to obovate or orbicular, 1.4–5.5 x 0.8–4.7 cm, apex weakly retuse to acuminate, apiculate or mucronate, base cuneate to rounded; 2–5 pairs of secondary veins, strongly ascending; glabrous to pubescent on both sides. Inflorescence 1.4–4 cm long; terminal and/or axillary; glabrous or sparsely puberulent. Sepals ovate to narrowly ovate, 1.5–3 x 0.4–1.5 mm, apex acute to acuminate; glabrous, rarely sparsely puberulent, ciliate. Corolla white; tube 5–21.5 mm long; lobes 1.5–15 mm long, ovate or oblong, apex acuminate to acute; glabrous outside, lobes ciliate and glabrous or pubescent inside, tube pubescent inside. Stamens inserted at 3.3–16 mm from base; filaments 0.2–0.5 mm long; anthers 1–2.5 x 0.3–0.7 mm. Ovary 0.5–1.5 mm long, glabrous or weakly papillose; style + pistil head 3–11.4 mm long. Fruit ovoid or subglobose; 3–60 mm long, 3–60 mm diameter; glabrous.

Thailand : NORTHERN: Chiang Mai, Lamphun; NORTH-EASTERN: Khon Kaen; EASTERN: Chaiyaphum, Nakhon Ratchasima, Surin; SOUTH-WESTERN: Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan; CENTRAL: Chai Nat, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Saraburi, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok); SOUTH-EASTERN: Prachin Buri, Chon Buri; PENINSULAR: Nakhon Si Thammarat, Songkhla.

Distribution : Extremely widspread from Senegal to New Caledonia.

Ecology : In open areas or in dry deciduous forests to 500 m alt. Also cultivated.

Vernacular : Khihaet (ขี้แฮด)(Northern); phrom (พรม), nam phrom (หนามพรม)(Northeastern, Central, Southeastern).

Notes: This species is very variable. The forms previously identified as Carex laotica var. ferruginea with larger leaves, flowers and fruits and a more pubescent inflorescence are particularly distinct. However, throughout the distribution of this very widespread species there is a complete intergradation between these forms and the more common forms previously identified as C. cochinchinensis and C. spinarum.