Carissa spinarum L., Mant. Alt. 559. 1771 excl. Syn. Rumph.; Hook. f, Fl. Br. Ind. 3: 631. 1882; Trimen, Handb. Fl. Ceylon 3: 125. 1895. Type: Koenig in the Linnaean Herb. 295/2 (LINN).

Carissa diffusa Roxb., [Hort. Beng. 19. 1814 nom. nud.] Fl. Ind. ed Carey 2: 524. 1824; Thw., Enum. Pl. Zeyl. 191. 1860.

An intricately branched, erect or occasionally slightly scandent tree. Spines simple or forked, 1.2–6 cm long. Leaves short-petioled; the blade 1.5–5 cm long and 1.2–4 cm wide, broadly ovate or rhomboid, widest in or below the middle, as long as wide to twice as long as wide, acute or rounded at the base, acute and apiculate at the apex, coriaceous; dried leaves with the midrib broadly channelled on the upper surface and the margins of the midrib often slightly raised, midrib not or faintly, elevated beneath; lateral veins prominent above, more slightly so beneath, the strongest narrowly sulcate on upper side; reticulate venation raised or indistinct above, normally raised beneath, at least in mature leaves. Peduncle not developed or up to 1.2 (rarely up to 1.5) mm long. Pedicels shorter to slightly longer than the calyx. Calyx lobes 2–2.5 mm long, glabrous or puberulous without. Flowers scentless. Corolla-tube 1.2–2 cm long. Fruit 0.7–1.2 cm long, shining, black. Chromosome number: 2n= 28.

Distr. From the Punjab through India to Ceylon and Burma.

*Cymes apparently but not truly terminal when arising from the axils of the uppermost leaves.

Ecol. In Ceylon common throughout the dry zone, especially in overgrazed and otherwise disturbed vegetation, along roads and at the edge of forests. Absent from the hill country and from the moist region. Flowering all the year.

Vern. Heen-karamba (S); Chiru-kila, Chiru-kula, Kilatti (T).

Note. The flowers but not the berries are eaten by macaques (Dittus).

Specimens Examined. JAFFNA DISTRICT: Southeast Point Pedro, sea level, Bernardi 14264 (US); near Pooneryn, Bernardi 14286 (PDA). VAVUNIYA DISTRICT: Vavuniya to Parayalankulam, mile 121, Hepper & Jayasuriya 4640 (PDA, US); Mullaitivu-Mankulam Road, Sumithraarachchi 800 (PDA). PUTTALAM DISTRICT: milepost 8, 20 miles south of Kalpitiya, Fosberg 52780 (US); mile 15 of Puttalam-Anuradhapura Road, Huber 49 (PDA, US); 4 km east of Puttalam, Fosberg & Jayasuriya 52790 (PDA, US); Wilpattu National Park, Bernardi 14212 (US). ANURADHAPURA DISTRICT: Anuradhapura, Alston 1049 (PDA); 5-6 miles northeast of Anuradhapura, Fosberg & Balakrishnan 53440 (PDA, US); between Anuradhapura and Nochchiyagama, Huber 7 (PDA, US); circa Rambewa, 50 m, Bernardi 14301 (PDA, US); Wilpattu National Park, Kokkare Villu, Koyama 13347 (PDA); Erige Ara, Wilpattu National Park, Wirawan 1409 and 6809 (both PDA); Mihintale Sanctuary, Sohmer 8139 (PDA); roadside marker 73/3 of Anuradhapura-Trincomalee Road, Sohmer 8155 (PDA); Kekirawa, 200 m, C.F. & R.J. van Beusekom 1590 (US). POLONNARUWA DISTRICT: Polonnaruwa Sacred Area, 60 m, Dittus 70032601, 71051901 & 71060501 (all PDA & US), Hladik 652 (PDA, US), Ripley 137, 159, 273 (all PDA & US), Ripley 652 (US); Polonmaruwa, near Pabulu Vehera, 61 m, Ripley 105 (PDA, US). KURUNEGALA DISTRICT: Barigoda Forest Reserve, Waas & Peeris 310 (PDA, US). MATALE DISTRICT: Road from Naula to Dambulla, 36/4 mile marker, Novicke et al. 327 (PDA, US), Sohmer 8070 (PDA, US), Tirvengadum & Waas 401 (PDA, US); near Illukkumbura, road marker 37/10 east of Lagalla, Novicke & Jayasuriya 201 & 202 (both PDA & US); Dik Patana near Illukkumbura, mile marker 38/2, 900 m, Tirvengadum et al. 20 (PDA, US). KANDY DISTRICT: Kandy-Mahiyangana Road, 28th mile marker, Sohmer 8268 (PDA); c. 9 miles northeast Hunnasgiriya, near mile post 29/21 on the road to Mahiyangana, 810 m, Dauidse & Jayasuriya 8422 (PDA, US). BATTICALOA DISTRICT: West of Kathiraveli towards Manicka-Kulam, 30 m, Bernardi 15663 (PDA). AMPARAI DISTRICT: Lahugala Sanctuary, Kitulana, 30 m, Comanor 593 (PDA); Lahugala Tank, Mueller -Dombois & Comanor 67072520 (PDA). BADULLA DISTRICT: Ekiriyankumbura, Huber 39 (PDA, US); Mahiyangana, 150 m, Stone 11151 (PDA, US). MONERAGALA DISTRICT: Bibile, 13 July 1924, Silva s.n (PDA). MATARA DISTRICT: Matara -Tangalla Road, sea level, Cramer 3435 (PDA, US). HAMBANTOTA DISTRICT: Tissamaharama, Huber 35 (PDA, US); near western boundary of Ruhuna National Park, Meijer 207 (PDA , US); Ruhunm National Park, Bernardi 14203 (PDA), Kostermans 25442 (PDA); Ruhuna National Park, near Andonoruwa, 20 m, Mueller-Dombois & Comanor 67062215 (PDA); Ruhuna National Park, Block 1, Rakinawala, Cooray 68102204 (PDA); Ranna, Alston 1287 (PDA). DISTRICT UNKNOWN: Maduru Odai, Mannar-Puttalam Road, at the junction to Periya Naga Villu, Wirawan. et al 921 (PDA,US). LOCALITY UNKNOWN.: Macrae 322 (BM), s. coll. C.P. 1822 (K,PDA)