|
Carissa spinarum L., Mant. Pl. 2: 559 1771. (Syn. Carissa congesta Wight; Carissa carandas var. congesta (Wight) Bedd.; Carissa carandas var. paucinervia (A.DC.) Bedd.; (=) Carissa brownii F. Muell.; (=) Carissa diffusa Roxb.; (=) Carissa edulis Vahl; (=) Carissa opaca Stapf ex Haines; (=) Carissa ovata R. Br.; Carissa inermis Vahl; …………………………….); unripe fruits (as VEGETABLE) … normally pickled
ripe as well as unripe fruits (as FRUIT)
.
It’s root administered in stomachic and anthelmintic, also to control fever, cordiac, nervous system disease and acts as a wonderful controller of thirst;
. Keys:
leaves 4-7 cm long, veins 8 pairs, corolla tube 2-2.5 cm long, fruit 1.5-2.5 cm long, purplish black when ripe, llipsoid ……….. Carissa carandas
leaves 1-3.5 cm long, lateral veins 3-5 pairs, corolla tube 1-1.5 cm long, fruit 7-8 mm long, dull dark purple when ripe, globose … Carissa spinarum . As per efi thread : C. carandas C. spinarum
1. Lateral veins of leaf ca. 8 pairs 1. Lateral veins of leaf 3-5 pairs
2. Leaves 3.5-8 cm long 2. Leaves 2-5 cm long
3. Leaf apex rounded, emarginate 3. Leaf apex acute or acuminate to apiculate
4. Fruit ellipsoid, 15-25 mm long. 4. Fruit subglobose, 5-12 mm
5. Ripe fruit reddish-purple 5. Ripe fruit shining black
.
Apocynaceae (dogbane family) » Carissa congesta
Synonym: Carissa carandas kar-ISS-uh — Latinized form of Indian vernacular name for this genus
kon-JES-tuh — congested, crowded Native to: India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka
Edible use (WILD):
unripe fruits (as VEGETABLE) … normally pickled
ripe as well as unripe fruits (as FRUIT)
Weaver Ants tending Scale Insects on Carvanda:
Thought this might be interesting. Photographed at my farm at Shahapur on Sunday…. Weaver ants [Oecophylla smaragdina] tending Scale insects [Family Coccidae] because they, like treehoppers, also secrete honeydew. Also seen is the start of the ant’s nest on Carvanda [Carissa congesta]. – I have seen the symbiotic relationship between these scale insects and several varieties of ants. One good way, I found to control these weaver ants is by encouraging the black cocktail ants to multiply. They too have a bad sting but not as bad as these weaver ants.
identification no110311sn1: date/time: feb11 – Carissa spinarum L.? – Yes .. You may be right leaves 4-7 cm long, veins 8 pairs, corolla tube 2-2.5 cm long, fruit 1.5-2.5 cm long, purplish black when ripe, ellipsoid ……… Carissa carandas
Carissa spinarum from Morni hills, Haryana: – Here are mine from the same locality, we shot it together. . Different Strokes revisited: Wow, now I know of a third Carissa, discovering a whole new world… THANKS …. OH I FORGOT TO GIVE THE URL FOR THE PAGE I WAS REFERING TO: HERE IT IS: . 220312 BRS 337 id. request. reg.: Carissa congesta (syn C. carandus?) This is Carissa spinarum L. (Syn. C. congesta) Thanks … for sp. confirmation.
the above in my thread looks slightly differ from C.carandus? Yes this is different from C. carandas. in C. carandas the leaves are elliptic or oblong with a round or slightly cordate base as against the ovate leaves with slightly acute or cuneate leaf base. The inflorescence in C. carandas is slightly puberulus and here it is glabrous. Was trying to send a few photographs but it is not happening…
Hi …, Dr Almeida in his ‘Flora of Maharashtra’, Vol 3-A, has classified Carissa villosa [syn. C. spinarium] as a separate species. Even Gamble has classified C. spinarum and C. congesta as two different species but with very little difference (or I would say hardly any difference). He classified the Canara plant as C. congesta and the Deccan plant as C. spinarum. Roxburgh had named the same plant as C. villosa, hence there exist several names for the same plant at different places. Anyway, am sending this link
Request Tree ID 083 – Lalbagh, Bangalore – RA: one question though..can Kamarada get this tall? see pic 4 … seems old and tall? Please check this link Interesting to look at these pictures. When I saw this tree in Lalbagh, I thought the bush nearby has covered it, so I thought the flowers and fruits are from the bush.
But tried to trace the branches and thought it was from the tree. I was not 100% sure whether they are from the tree or the bush.
I will confirm this again when I go to Lalbagh again. It is Carissa congesta.
Carissa for ID : Mumbai : 110612 : AK-2: This looks like the regular Carvanda [Carissa congesta] but it is difficult to make a accurate diagnosis without a photograph of the entire leaf. Carissa congesta
Different Strokes revisited: Great pictures of डोंगरची मैना They appear so juicy even in the photographs Found this mail while searching for my LA upload of Carissa
For Id 300612 – NS1, From Mulshi,Pune: Carissa congesta, Karvanda करवंद How to differentiate this from Carissa spinarum? We call this Kaali maina in Marathi ..I am not very sure is it.Carissa spinarum or Carissa congesta,! Help. I think the fruit in the picture is Carissa carandas commonly found near streams and hilly areas. … the fruits ofC.carandus are bigger (c.2-3cm long) and here it is smaller leading to C.spinarum or C.congesta. Also the leaves are obtuse tipped and about 8x5cm in C.carandus. For me the plant is C.spinarum as suggested by … This plant is very common in Guindy National Park Chennai. . Carissa spinarum–sharing my pic:
Sharing my pic of Wild Karanda Pic taken at my farm at ambyvalley rd. lonavala/mulshi pune in april 12.
Karawand (Carissa congesta) flowering:
Rubiaceae Week:Carissa congesta: Very nice photographs … But it will come under Family : Apocynaceae. and not Rubiaceae.
Carissa spinarum—for sharing and validation:
Flora of Kaiga 20052013PJ1 : Attachments (1). 2 posts by 1 author.
Sharing ,Carissa congesta ….
Summer vacation makes our village children busy in quenching their thrist in collecting forest fruit.
It is a road side shrub in the Kaiga-Karwar Road.
It’s root administered in stomachic and anthelmintic, also to control fever, cordiac, nervous system disease and acts as a wonderful controller of thirst.
Carissa spinarum Fruits : For ID Confirmation : Anjaneri,Nasik : 010713 : AK-4 : Attachments (1). 9 posts by 3 authors. Very sweet tasting.
Carissa spinarum?
Earlier we got a lot of these in Kasara Ghat area. But with the new national highways, we miss out on them.
Kindly confirm id. Carissa spinarum If they are large [about 2.5 cms long], very sweet and look like plums then they are more likely to be Carissa inermis. Sending one of my photographs. Forgot to mention – in C. villosa [C.spinarium], the berry is only 6 mm long. Thanks for your picture and feedback.
Berries were not very large, approx 1 to 1.5 cm. Most of them sweet, few a bit sour.
Years ago, I recollect these were sold by vendors at the Kasara railway station, in tiny baskets made of leaves.
You see a lot of these bushes in the Kasara-Igatpuri ghat. I could find a picture taken at Anjaneri of the flowers.
Bush growing wild by the roadside.
Picture is taken on 26/2/2011. In that case it is the humble Carvanda [Carissa congesta].
Though both look identical, C.congesta is the more prevalent species.
4 seeded – C.congesta.
2 seeded – C.carandas
Some of my photographs of C.congesta are available at this link
Thanks for the beautiful pictures. Carissa congesta Wight & Carissa inermis Vahl are now considered as syn. of Carissa spinarumL. as per the Plant List & as per discussions at efi page: Carissa spinarum.
in the shivalik hills near chandigarh
photographed in the month of may
the flowers were much smaller than that of carissa carandas Yes Carissa spinarum, a common shrub in the area with mildly fragrant flowers.. fruits turning purple on maturity..
Carrissa spinarum—-for sharing and validation : 1 post by 1 author. Attachments (3).
Pic of Wild Karanda, taken at ambyvalley rd., lonavala, pune in feb14.
Anmod Ghat :: Carissa spinarum :: DVFEB61/94 : 3 posts by 2 authors.
Anmod Ghat … NH4A descending from Anmod, Karnataka to Mollem, Goa Date: 26 MAY 2013 … Altitude: descends from about 640 m asl to 90 m asl
Carissa spinarum L. … (family: Apocynaceae) Diverse vegetation indeed. Many thanks …, indeed vegetation of Western Ghats is charming.
Need Id assistance for following image belonging to Carissa? : 3 posts by 2 authors. Attachments (1)
I need id assistance for the following image belonging to Carissa? Carissa spinarum I hope Sir again thanks a lot for your id assistance.
Carissa spinarum—-for sharing : 1 post by 1 author. Attachments (1)
few medicinal plants from FRLHT:
Pictures of few Medicinal Plants found in FRLHT Campus. …. 3. Carissa carandas Fruits Nice photographs ! The third is Carissa congesta var. albida. Please check this link for our previous discussion on this
About Carrissa, my thought is same as … Carissa congesta var. albida. Yes third one is Carissa spinarum L. (Syn: Carissa congesta var. albida and Carissa carandas var. congesta(Wight) Bedd. This is turning interesting. Carissa congesta Wight even (not to say of var. albida Santapau) as well as C. opaca Stapf ex Haines (name given to Indian specimens of C. spinarum (non L.) are treated as a synonym of C. spinarum. This is followed by both The Plant List and Wikipedia (which generally has reliable information) This leaves decision between C. spinarum L. (or if we treat C. congesta and C. opaca as distinct) and Carissa carandas.
C. carandasC. spinarum
1. Lateral veins of leaf ca. 8 pairs 1. Lateral veins of leaf 3-5 pairs
2. Leaves 3.5-8 cm long 2. Leaves 2-5 cm long
3. Leaf apex rounded, emarginate 3. Leaf apex acute or acuminate
to apiculate
4. Fruit ellipsoid, 15-25 mm long. 4. Fruit subglobose, 5-12 mm
5. Ripe fruit reddish-purple 5. Ripe fruit shining black
There is, however, a big catch. Flora of Pakistan considers C. congesta as synonym of C. carandas (and not C. spinarum, but then we have seen such confusion in this website.
Things are not very clear seeing lot of variability and confusion in literature but for me most features especially leaves and young fruit go with C. carandas
Plant for validation :: Devgad, Konkan :: March 2016 – ARKOCT12 : 6 posts by 2 authors. Attachments (2) Missed attaching the pic of the fruits
Attachments (1) Thanks for the suggestion. Also attaching a pic of the fruit taken 2 years ago from a nearby area, maybe this might help.
I had assumed C. carandas due to the emarginated leaves.
Hoping to get it validated.
Attachments (1)
Thanks, … Only very leaves are emarginated. Also check the ripe fruit & other keys at Carissa Thank you … I take it as Carissa spinarum. Attaching ripened fruits captured this season. Attachments (3)
Carissa (Apocynaceae) for ID :: Feb2018 MK003 : 3 posts by 2 authors. Attachments (4)
Please help me in identifying this Carissa species.
Habitat: scrub forests
Habit: shrub
Fruit: slightly elliptic and 1 cm long
The spines are non-dichotomous
Date: 29 Jan 2018
Place: Jammu, J & K
Pl. check /species/a—l/a/apocynaceae/carissa Looks like Carissa spinarum
Carissa inermis SN 06032019 : 6 posts by 4 authors. Attachments (2)
Carissa inermis, armed shrub from Agumbe area of Karnataka
i forgot to ask: like other carissa’s does this plant also have spines/thorns? if yes, are they bifurcated ? did you take pictures of the short and curved spines on this particular plant? if so, can i see them
Carissa spinarum? – indiantreepix | Google Groups Carissa congesta (Karaunda)? – indiantreepix | Google Groups ID request – Flora of Uttarakhand (200609SS2)    Carissa spinarum :: Osudu, Puducherry :: 14 OCT 19 : 4 posts by 3 authors. 3 images.
Osudu Puducherry Date: October 14, 2019 … Altitude range: about 15 m (50 feet) asl
Carissa spinarum L. Reference: e-flora of Karaikal District
Nice post . Flowers looks like Jasminum sp.
wild caramda. very nice Thank you very much … Yes, the flowers look quite like those of jasmine.
    Carissa carandas 271011PD02 Flora of Orissa: Dear all sharing the picture of one of the most common wild edible fruit plant of Orissa consumed by all class of people Date of collection: 25/06/11
Place of collection: Ranpur, Nayagarh, Orissa
Habit: Shrub
Habitat: Scrub forest and near the edge of the forest
beautiful flowers and fruits. These fruits are sold in our area in the name of “Kali maina” mainly near schools as children loves it. The unripe fruits are used in pickles.
To add your observations, this plant is locally called Khirikoli (latex fruit) in Orissa as the fruit secret milkey latex during harvesting and also called Nitipokhati (fertile throughout the year) as it produce flower through out the year. Should it not be Carissa spinarum if we go by keys provided by … as per efi thread ?
C. carandas C. spinarum
1. Lateral veins of leaf ca. 8 pairs 1. Lateral veins of leaf 3-5 pairs
2. Leaves 3.5-8 cm long 2. Leaves 2-5 cm long
3. Leaf apex rounded, emarginate 3. Leaf apex acute or acuminate to apiculate
4. Fruit ellipsoid, 15-25 mm long. 4. Fruit subglobose, 5-12 mm
5. Ripe fruit reddish-purple 5. Ripe fruit shining black
09062013 ASP 44 : Attachments (1). 2 posts by 2 authors.
Can you please ID this small climber with jasmine like flowers. Photo was taken along a fence in Sri Lanka in March 2012. Could be Carissa carandas. Carissa carandas L. and Carissa spinarum L. only 2 sp. recorded in Sri Lanka and looks more close to Carissa carandas L. . Carissa spinarum Yes, Carissa spinarum L. as per keys herein. I agree with both of you
Carissa Species for ID : Lonavala : 16APR19 : AK-8 : 3 posts by 2 authors. Attachments (1) for carissa, i like to see the spines, their place on the twig and shape, they are often unique to the spaces. so i hope you have loads of more pictures Sorry I have just one picture. Carissa carandas L. ?? I agree with … Carissa spinarum L. as per keys herein. This is not Carissa spinarum Pl. check the keys at my given link. I too agree for spinarum . Shrub for ID : Borgad Conservation Reserve : Nasik : 22SEP21 : AK – 033: 3 images.
A shrub seen at the base of Borgad a few days ago (22.9.21). No flowers or fruits. Flacourtia indica I think it is more closer to images at Flacourtia latifolia (Hook. f. & Thomson) T. Cooke as per comparative images at Flacourtia. Would these shrubs be the same? I think yes. Flacourtia latifolia (Hook. f. & Thomson) T. Cooke The subsequent two images I had added has been suggested by … as Carissa spinarum.
Both looked the same to me, so I got a bit confused.
I can add more pictures in another post if required (of Carissa spinarum). Yes, … is right as per images at Carissa spinarum The first set of three images is from the same shrub.
Next set of two pictures is from another shrub.
Should I take all of them as Carissa spinarum then? . SK 3254 23 December 2021: 8 very high res. images. Location: Surkhet, West Nepal
Altitude: 702m.
Date: 27 August 2021
Habit : Wild
Jasminum ?? Isn’t it spiny? Is it not Carissa sp.? Carissa spinarum L. Yes, appears close to images at Carissa spinarum Yes Carissa spinarum . SK 3296 06 January 2022: 6 very high res. images. Location: Surkhet, West Nepal
Altitude: 700 m.
Date: 09 December 2021
Habit : Wild Carissa spinarum L. ?? Yes, appears close to images at Carissa spinarum . Carissa spinarum : Borgad Conservation Reserve : Nasik : 26APR22 : AK – 08: 4 images. . Carissa spinarum from Morni-GS13052022-3: 10 high res. images. Carissa spinarum photographed from Morni, Haryana, 29-4-2011
The three common species are differentiated as follows:
1. C. macrocarpa: leaf veins obscure, corolla lobes 1-2.5 cm long, longer than tube, fruit 2-5 cm., ovoid.
2. C. carandas: Lateral leaf veins 7-9 pairs, corolla lobes 1 cm long, shorter than tube, fruit 1,5-2.5 cm, ellipsoid.
3. C. spinarum: Lateral veins 3-5 pairs, corolla lobes 5-7 mm long, shorter than tube, fruit globose, 5-12 mm . Shrub for ID : Nasik : 08JUN22 : AK – 02: 2 images. Carissa species May be Carissa spinarum L., as per images and details herein. . I was going through the eflora of India for Carissa species but saw that there is no Carissa congesta there, and it is listed as synonym of Carissa spinarum. but both species looks very different from each other, so searched for some literature and I got this. sharing to check and update.
Karthikeyan, S., Sanjappa, M. and Moorthy, S. (2009). Flowering Plants of India: Dicotyledons, Vol. I (Acanthaceae-Avicenneaceae). Botanical Survey of India. pp130-131.
Genus: Carissa (L., 1767)
1. Carissa carandas (L., 1882) : Throughout India.
2. Carissa congesta (Wight, 1958)
syn. Carissa carandas var. congesta ((Wight) Bedd., 1882)
var. congesta (Wight, 1958) : NW & Peninsular India. var. albida (Santapau, 1967) : Maharashtra.
3. Carissa gangetica (Stapf ex Gamble, 1923) : E & S India.
4. Carissa grandiflora (A. DC., 1984) : Cultivated.
5. Carissa hirsuta (Roth, 1967) : E & S India.
syn. Carissa spinarum var. hirsuta ((Roth) Hook.f., 1882)
6. Carissa inermis (Vahl, 1967)
syn. Carissa macrophylla (A. DC., 1882)
syn. Carissa suavissima (Bedd. ex Hook.f., 1882)
syn. Carissa inermis var. macrophylla (Haines, 1922)
var. inermis (Vahl, 1882) : E to Peninsular India.
var. dalzellii (Haines, 1922) : E India.
7. Carissa opaca (Stapf ex Haines, 1984) : Throughout Himalayas & drier parts of India.
syn. Carissa paucinervia var. opaca ((Stapf ex Haines) Haines, 1922)
8. Carissa paucinervia (A. DC., 1290) : E NE & S India.
9. Carissa salicina (Lam., 1967) : Tamilnadu.
10. Carissa spinarum (L., 1882)
syn. Carissa diffusa (Roxb., 1871)
syn. Carissa spinarum var. diffusa ((Roxb.) Haines, 1922)
var. spinarum (L., 1882) : Throughout drier parts of India.
var. microphylla (Gamble, 1923) : S India.
var. scandens (Haines, 1922) : E India.
Catalogue of Life also accepted this classification
Carissa congesta Wight
Please refer this and update on site. I think POWO is more reliable, as per which it is a synonym. . Regarding identification of the Carissa species collected from Khurda: 6high res. images. Looks like Carissa spinarum Can you post the ripened fruits if available ? Yes, appears close to images at . Carissa spinarum L. :: Waghbil, Thane :: Mar 2, 2008 · JUN23 DV271: 4 images. . Carissa spinarum L. :: Guhagar, Maharashtra :: Mar 6, 2011 · JUN23 DV472: 1 image. Carissa spinarum L.
Guhagar, Maharashtra :: Mar 6, 2011 · 8:33 AM IST :: about 10 m (30 ft) asl
Many thanks to Bharat Godambe for validating the ID at iNaturalist . Carissa spinarum L.: 4 high res. images. Location: Jajarkot Road, West Nepal
Date: 30 May 2023
Elevation 800m.
Habit : Wild For me the ID needs to be rechecked. This species is available in South India. For me images look slightly different Yes, appears close as per images at If any Nepali name(s) for this plant, please help. Nepali Name : जङ्गली करौँदा Jangalee Karaundaa . Apocynaceae: Carissa spinarum L.: 2 images. . Rutaceae: Carissa spinarum: 3 high res. images. . 180425PKD1: I’d pls collected from Gajapati Odisha on April 2025: 3 high res. images. Carissa inermis Vahl. ?? Yes, appears close as per images at
https://efloraofindia.com/efi/carissa-congesta/ . 130326PKD1: Id pls collected from Khurda odisha on March 2026: 3 high res. images. Carissa spinarum L. . ID:2346789044: (Mixed thread): 3 images. Flacourtia indica (Burm.fil.) Merr. Carissa sp. There is a mix up of images.
2nd image can be of https://efloraofindia.com/efi/flacourtia-indica/,
while the 1st and 3rd may be of Carissa spinarum L. as per
https://www.floraofsrilanka.com/species/506 . Carissa spinarum L. :: Kalsubai Harishchandragad WLS :: Apr 6, 2026 · 9:02 AM IST: 4 images. Carissa spinarum L.
Kalsubai Harishchandragad WLS :: Apr 6, 2026 · 9:02 AM IST
Kothale, Akole, Ahilyanagar, average altitude 600 m asl . 781 ID conservated lactiferous thorny tree: 18 images.
Please ID conservated tree, Location: Botanical Garden Bangalore Karnataka INDIA Altitude: 3000fsl Flower date: 04MAY2026, 05.35pm Habitat: conservated moisture sloppy land Plant habit: medium branched thorny lactiferous tree/liana, hard woody cylindrical stem 20cm base circumference, rough brownish bark Height: 03 meter Leaves: opposite elliptical acute simple flexible smooth glossy, size upto: 05×03cm Flower: terminal panicle inflorescence, whitish, fragrant, diameter:03cm Fruit: berry green into purple to black ovoid glabrous size:02x01cm Seed: brown 02 nos., ovoid compressed size:05x3mm I think Carissa spinarum Carissa spinarum L.
Yes, it is Carissa spinarum, dear … thank you very much for the ID of my plant, but I feel the berry wasn’t tasty. Yes Sir Carissa spinarum . Id required for this shrub plant??: 1 image.
Location: Mendhar jammu and kashmir india Date: 13/05/2026 Pl. post image of the full plant. Maybe Carissa spinarum L. as per
https://groups.google.com/g/indiantreepix/c/wujUprvEaGo . Names of Plants in India :: Carissa spinarum L.: 1 image.
Carissa spinarum L. kar-ISS-uh — Latinized form of Indian vernacular name for this genus … Dave’s Botanary
spi-NAH-rum — Latin: spina (thorn, spine); arum (of the); literally translates to “of thorns” or “of the spines” … compiled from the web commonly known as: wild karanda • Bengali: করমচা karamcha • Dogri: गरना garna, गरंडा garanda, गरौंदा garaunda • Garhwali: गरणा garna, करोंधू karondhu, करूंदा karunda, खर्नू kharnu • Gojari: गरच्छ garach, ग्रँडा granda • Gujarati: કારિંદા karinda • Haryanvi: जंगली करौंदा jungli karonda • Hindi: गरने garnae, जंगली करौंदा jungli karonda, करोंदी karondi • Kannada: ಚಿಕ್ಕಕವಳಿ chikka kavali, ಕರಿಚಿ karichi, ನಾಯಿಕಲಮೆ naayikalame • Kol: कनुवान 𑢪𑢫𑢵𑢾𑢫 kanuwan • Konkani: व्हडली काण्टां vhadli kantam • Kumaoni: करौंदा karaunda, करूंदा karunda • Kurukh: कनुवान কনূবান କନୁୱାନ kanuwan • Malayalam: ചെറുമുൾച്ചെടി cherumulchedi, ചെറുമുള്ളി cherumulli, മുള്ളി mulli • Marathi: करवंद karvanda • Nepali: जङ्गली करौँदा jangalee karaundaa • Odia: ଆଙ୍କୁକୋଳି ankukoli, ଦୁଧକୋଳି dudhakoli, ଖିରିକୋଳି khirikoli, ସାନ କରେଣ୍ଡା san karenda • Pahari: गरौंदा garaunda, गरणा garna, गुरणू gurnu, करौंदा karaunda • Punjabi: ਗਣ gan, ਮਰਦਕ mardak • Rajasthani: करोन्दा karonda • Sanskrit: करमर्दिका karamardika • Santali: ᱡᱟᱹᱱᱩᱢ janum, ᱠᱟᱸᱲᱣᱟᱠ karwak • Tamil: சிறுகளா chirukala • Telugu: చిన్న కలివి channa kalavi, కలే కాయ kale kaaya, కలిమి kalimi, వాకకాయ vaaka-kaaya, వాకిర్లు wakirlu • Tulu: ಕರಂಡೆ karande known for / parts made use of: the fruit (nutritional & culinary), the roots (medicinal), the leaves and bark (therapeutic), the stems and spines (dead hedge as well as living fence) … compiled from the web. botanical names: Carissa spinarum L. … heterotypic synonyms: Carissa carandas var. congesta (Wight) Bedd. • Carissa congesta Wight • Carissa diffusa Roxb. • Carissa inermis Vahl • Carissa opaca Stapf ex Haines … and more at POWO, retrieved August 04, 2026 Bibliography / etymology / notes
Links listed as references in the notes below, may not remain valid permanently. Portals / websites have a tendency to re-organize / revise their content, leading to change in URLs of pages in their site. Some sites may even close down at their own will. The bits about the languages of India mentioned below are merely some bare facts gathered from the internet; just enough to satisfy curiosity about “where” could the listed names be best prevalent in India. All English transliterated names to be taken sensu amplo. ~~~~~ ENGLISH ~~~~~
written and spoken widely, in most parts of India
wild karanda (the true karanda)
~~~~~ BENGALI ~~~~~
written in: Bengali (বাংলা) … spoken in: West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand, Tripura, Andaman & Nicobar Islands
করমচা karamcha
~~~~~ DOGRI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (डोगरी) … spoken in: Jammu & Kashmir … spoken by the Dogras
गरना garna (or: गड़ना garna, variants: गिरना girna, गिड़ना girna), गरंडा garanda (or: गरांडा garanda, variant: ग्रन्डा granda)
गरौंदा garaunda
~~~~~ GARHWALI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (गढ़वळि) … spoken in: Uttarakhand
गरणा garna, करोंधू karondhu, करूंदा karunda, खर्नू kharnu
~~~~~ GOJARI ~~~~~
written in: Takri, Perso-Arabic, Devanagari … spoken in: Jammu and Kashmir, northern Punjab, Himachal Pradesh … also spelt as: Gojri, Gujari, Gujri … spoken by: nomadic community of Gurjar (or also known by other names: Gujjar, Gujar, Gurjara)
गरच्छ garach, ग्रँडा granda
~~~~~ GUJARATI ~~~~~
written in: Gujarati (ગુજરાતી) … spoken in: Gujarat, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu
કારિંદા karinda
~~~~~ HARYANVI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (हरियाणवी or हरयाणवी) … spoken in: Haryana, Delhi
जंगली करौंदा jungli karonda
~~~~~ HINDI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (हिन्दी) … spoken in: Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand
गरने garnae, जंगली करौंदा jungli karonda
करोंदी karondi
~~~~~ KANNADA ~~~~~
written in: Kannada (ಕನ್ನಡ) … spoken in: Karnataka
ಚಿಕ್ಕಕವಳಿ chikka kavali, ಕರಿಚಿ karichi, ನಾಯಿಕಲಮೆ naayikalame
~~~~~ KOL ~~~~~
written in: Warang Chiti (or Barang Kshiti, Varang Kshiti), Devanagari … spoken in: Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal … spoken by: Kol people
कनुवान 𑢪𑢫𑢵𑢾𑢫 kanuwan
~~~~~ KONKANI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (कोंकणी) / Kannada (ಕೊಂಕಣಿ) / Malayalam (കൊങ്കണി) / Perso-Arabic (کونکنی) / Romi (Konknni) … spoken in: Goa, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala, Gujarat
व्हडली काण्टां vhadli kantam
~~~~~ KUMAONI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari … spoken in: Uttarakhand
करौंदा karaunda, करूंदा karunda
~~~~~ KURUKH ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (कुँड़ुख़), Assamese-Bangla (কুড়ুখ্), Odia (କୁଡ଼ୁଖ୍), Kurukh Banna and Tolong Siki … spoken by the Kurukh (Oraon) and Kisan people … spoken in: Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Assam, Bihar and Tripura … other names for this language: Kurux, Oraon, Uraon, Uranw
कनुवान কনূবান କନୁୱାନ kanuwan
~~~~~ MALAYALAM ~~~~~
written in: Malayalam (മലയാളം) … spoken in: Kerala, Lakshadweep
ചെറുമുൾച്ചെടി cherumulchedi
ചെറുമുള്ളി cherumulli
മുള്ളി mulli
~~~~~ MARATHI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (मराठी) … spoken in: Maharashtra, Karnataka
करवंद karvanda
~~~~~ NEPALI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (नेपाली) … spoken in: Nepal, West Bengal, Assam, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir
जङ्गली करौँदा jangalee karaundaa
~~~~~ ODIA ~~~~~
written in: Odia (ଓଡ଼ିଆ) … spoken in: Odisha, Andaman & Nicobar Islands
ଆଙ୍କୁକୋଳି ankukoli, ସାନ କରେଣ୍ଡା san karenda
ଦୁଧକୋଳି dudhakoli
ଖିରିକୋଳି khirikoli
~~~~~ PAHARI (or PAHADI) ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (पहाड़ी), Perso-Arabic (پہاڑی) … variety of languages, dialects and language groups, spoken in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand
गरौंदा garaunda, गरणा garna, गुरणू gurnu, करौंदा karaunda
~~~~~ PUNJABI ~~~~~
written in: Gurmukhi (ਪੰਜਾਬੀ) … spoken in: Punjab
ਗਣ gan, ਮਰਦਕ mardak
~~~~~ RAJASTHANI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (राजस्थानी) … spoken in: Rajasthan
करोन्दा karonda (or करौंदा karaunda)
~~~~~ SANSKRIT ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (संस्कृतम्) … used all over India by priests and scholars
करमर्दिका karamardika
~~~~~ SANTALI ~~~~~
written in: Ol Chiki (ᱥᱟᱱᱛᱟᱲᱤ), Bengali (সাঁওতালী), Odia (ସାନ୍ତାଳୀ), Devanagari (सान्ताली), Roman … spoken in: Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha
ᱡᱟᱹᱱᱩᱢ janum, ᱠᱟᱸᱲᱣᱟᱠ karwak
~~~~~ TAMIL ~~~~~
written in: Tamil (தமிழ்) … spoken in: Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Andaman & Nicobar Islands
சிறுகளா chirukala (or சிறுகிளா chirukila)
~~~~~ TELUGU ~~~~~
written in: Telugu ( తెలుగు) … spoken in: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Puducherry
చిన్న కలివి channa kalavi, కలే కాయ kale kaaya, కలిమి kalimi, వాకిర్లు wakirlu
వాకకాయ vaaka-kaaya
~~~~~ TULU ~~~~~
written in: Tigalari (Tulu) was used for writing Vedic texts in Sanskrit, Kannada (ತುಳು), Malayalam (തുളു) … spoken in: Karnataka, north Kerala
ಕರಂಡೆ karande (or ಕರಂಡೆ ಕಾಯಿ karande kaayi)
~~~~~ KNOWN DISTRIBUTION in INDIA ~~~~~
Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal
TAXONOMIC NOTE ON VERNACULAR OVERLAP In 1850, Robert Wight published Carissa congesta to describe the wild, small-fruited, black-berried shrub abundant across the Western Ghats (the true Karvanda). However, colonial botanists struggled to separate it from Carissa carandas, leading to a long-standing taxonomic entanglement in Indian botanical literature. Authors historically merged the two plants by either treating C. congesta as a direct synonym under C. carandas, or reducing it to a variety known as Carissa carandas var. congesta.
Today, modern databases like POWO have officially untangled this relationship. They have split the earlier synonymy and placed Carissa congesta under Carissa spinarum. Because C. congesta journeyed from an independent species to a synonym of C. carandas, and finally to its current placement under C. spinarum, local names like Karavanda and Karaunda continue to be used interchangeably between carandas and spinarum in regional literature. ~~~~~ Created on: 12:06 04-08-2026 ¦ Last updated: 16:48 06-08-2026 (DD-MM-YYYY) ~~~~~
Names compiled / updated at https://dineshvalke.blogspot.com/2026/08/carissa-spinarum-l.html Both Malayalam and English names are correct. Many thanks to Nitin Kawthankar for help with this name … facebook
Malvani name added …
commonly known as: wild karanda • Bengali: করমচা karamcha • Dogri: गरना garna, गरंडा garanda, गरौंदा garaunda • Garhwali: गरणा garna, करोंधू karondhu, करूंदा karunda, खर्नू kharnu • Gojari: गरच्छ garach, ग्रँडा granda • Gujarati: કારિંદા karinda • Haryanvi: जंगली करौंदा jungli karonda • Hindi: गरने garnae, जंगली करौंदा jungli karonda, करोंदी karondi • Kannada: ಚಿಕ್ಕಕವಳಿ chikka kavali, ಕರಿಚಿ karichi, ನಾಯಿಕಲಮೆ naayikalame • Kol: कनुवान 𑢪𑢫𑢵𑢾𑢫 kanuwan • Konkani: व्हडली काण्टां vhadli kantam • Kumaoni: करौंदा karaunda, करूंदा karunda • Kurukh: कनुवान কনূবান କନୁୱାନ kanuwan • Malayalam: ചെറുമുൾച്ചെടി cherumulchedi, ചെറുമുള്ളി cherumulli, മുള്ളി mulli • Malvani: करांगना karangna, करना karna • Marathi: करवंद karvanda • Nepali: जङ्गली करौँदा jangalee karaundaa • Odia: ଆଙ୍କୁକୋଳି ankukoli, ଦୁଧକୋଳି dudhakoli, ଖିରିକୋଳି khirikoli, ସାନ କରେଣ୍ଡା san karenda • Pahari: गरौंदा garaunda, गरणा garna, गुरणू gurnu, करौंदा karaunda • Punjabi: ਗਣ gan, ਮਰਦਕ mardak • Rajasthani: करोन्दा karonda • Sanskrit: करमर्दिका karamardika • Santali: ᱡᱟᱹᱱᱩᱢ janum, ᱠᱟᱸᱲᱣᱟᱠ karwak • Tamil: சிறுகளா chirukala • Telugu: చిన్న కలివి channa kalavi, కలే కాయ kale kaaya, కలిమి kalimi, వాకకాయ vaaka-kaaya, వాకిర్లు wakirlu • Tulu: ಕರಂಡೆ karande
. Nepali name(s) of Carissa carandas L.:
Please help with the Nepali name(s) of Carissa carandas L. Nepali Name : करौंदा Karaudaa Inserting the “n” that inadvertently got missed in करौंदा Karaunda. Correct : करौँदा Karaundaa I will make the correction shortly. . |
Carissa spinarum
Updated on September 14, 2026