name: Natal Plum

flavor_db_name_variants: natal plum

source: foodb

status: draft

food_db_id: Natal plum

id: 320

name_scientific: Carissa macrocarpa

description: Carissa macrocarpa (Natal Plum), is a shrub native to South Africa, where it is commonly called the Large Num-Num. In Zulu, as well as in the Bantu tribes of Uganda, it is called amatungulu. In Afrikaans the fruit is called Noem-Noem. C. macrocarpa deals well with salt-laden winds, making it a good choice for coastal areas. It is commonly found in the coastal bush of the Eastern Cape and Natal. It produces shiny, deep green leaves and snowy white flowers whose perfumed scent intensifies at night. Like other Carissa species, C. macrocarpa is a spiny, evergreen shrub containing latex. They bloom for months at a time. The ornamental plump, round, crimson fruit appears in summer and fall (autumn) at the same time as the blooms. In moderate, coastal areas the fruits appear through the year. The fruit can be eaten out of hand or made into pies, jams, jellies, and sauces. Some claim that other than the fruit, the plant is poisonous. However this claim is a myth, possibly based on similarities to other plants with milky sap. The California Poison Control System rates the plant as mildly toxic. It appears in the South African National tree list as number 640.3. A traditional food plant in Africa, this little-known fruit has potential to improve nutrition, boost food security, foster rural development and support sustainable landcare.

itis_id: 501290

wikipedia_id: Carissa macrocarpa

picture_file_name: 325.jpg

picture_content_type: image/jpeg

picture_file_size: 138161

picture_updated_at: 2012-04-20T09:39:20.000Z

legacy_id: 352

food_group: Fruits

food_subgroup: Tropical fruits

food_type: Type 1

created_at: 2011-02-09T00:37:35.000Z

updated_at: 2019-05-14T18:04:23.000Z

creator_id: null

updater_id: null

export_to_afcdb: false

category: specific

ncbi_taxonomy_id: 403101

export_to_foodb: true

public_id: FOOD00320