Plant · GBIF taxon 5414420
Natal Plum
Carissa macrocarpaAlso known as Amathungulu, Big Num-Num, Large Num-Num
Natal plum forms dense, sprawling evergreen thickets clad in glossy oval leaves and armed with formidable Y-shaped thorns. Starry white flowers bloom throughout much of the year, releasing a rich jasmine-like fragrance that attracts nocturnal moths and daytime pollinators alike. Crimson egg-shaped fruits follow the blossoms, serving as an important food source for birds and mammals that disperse the seeds.
EvergreenFragrantThorny
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic
Predators
- Vervet Monkeys
- Frugivorous Birds
- Bushbabies
ThreatsHabitat Loss, Invasive Species Competition
HabitatsCoastal Thickets, Sand Dunes, Subtropical Woodlands, Urban Hedges
Life span20–50 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderGentianales
- FamilyApocynaceae
- GenusCarissa
- SpeciesCarissa macrocarpa
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Foliage and green fruit are toxic, sap irritates skin, and wild berries have dangerous look-alikes.
- Why it is dangerous
- Stems and green fruits release milky latex containing toxic cardiac glycosides that cause severe gastrointestinal distress if ingested.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Recognizable by glossy dark oval leaves, fragrant five-petaled white flowers, and prominent Y-shaped dual spines along stems.
- What to do
- Wear thick garden gloves when pruning to protect against the sharp thorns and irritating milky sap.
Responsible observation
- Pruning: Wear sturdy gloves to protect skin from milky latex and sharp fork-tipped spines.
- Observation: Look for night-flying moths visiting the fragrant white flowers after dusk.
- Gardening: Position along coastal property borders where salt spray kills sensitive hedges.
Image unavailableClose Relative 
Family Member Alvesgaspar / CC BY 2.5 · cc-by
Family Member (c) Cabanillas Lopez Jesus Miguel, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Cabanillas Lopez Jesus Miguel · cc-by-sa
Family Member (c) Louis Aureglia, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Louis Aureglia · cc-by
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