Carissa ovata

Carissa ovata is a shrub which pushes in particular in Australia and in New Caledonia.

Description

Carissa ovata is a small shrub (2 m in general, up to 4 m to the maximum) of bulky appearance and with drawn up branches.

Large spines of 1 cm length are located at the junctions of the stems and are placed in a way perpendicular to the sheets. The branches ramify in a symmetrical way every approximately 10 cm, which gives to the shrub a very dense pace.

Its bark is green dark, rough and has many lenticels on the trunk.

The sheets are thick, coriaces. They are small (1 cm length), pointed at the ends and bent on the side, like a spoon. They are of color dark green adults and green clearly young. The veins are not apparent. They are laid out face to face along the branch.

The flowers, one centimetre in diameter, are of white color and present 5 petals placed in ray whose ends are pointed. They are gathered at the end of the branches in a dense way and are odorous.

Reproduction

The fruits are bays lengthened from 12 to 15 mm length on 5 to 6 mm thickness. They are pointed at the top and have only one seed. The bays would be toxic and have a calming effect.

Habitat

Dry forests. Adapt to the shade as with the sun.

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