| HABIT : A large erect or subscandent shrub armed with stout, straight or somewhat curved spines with spines on upper branches simple and those on the lower branches are simple or much branched. |
| LEAVES : Opposite, coriaceous, elliptic or obovate, obtuse. |
| INFLORECENCE : Terminal corymbose cymes. |
| FLOWERS : White, odorous, bracteates, bracts linear. Calyx 5-lobed, hairy. Corolla salver-shaped, lobes 5.
Stamens 5, included within the corolla-mouth, filaments very short, anthers linear, disk absent. Ovary superior, 2-celled, ovules 4 in each cell, stigma hairy. |
| FRUIT : Berry ovoid or ellipsoid, purplish-black when ripe, 4 or more seeded. |
| FLOWERING AND FRUITING TIME : December to April. |
| Carissa carandas is popular in indigenous system of medicine for its medicinal use in gut motility disorders like, constipation and diarrhea. |
| Its fruit is used in the ancient Indian herbal system of medicine, Ayurvedic, to treat acidity, indigestion, fresh and infected wounds, skin diseases, urinary disorders and diabetic ulcer, as well as biliousness, stomach pain, constipation, anemia, skin conditions. |
| The roots serve as a stomachic, an anthelmintic medicine for itches and also as insect repellents. |
