Common Name: Karanda

General Information

Karanda is a climbing shrub or small tree usually growing 3 - 5 metres tall[, ]. The stems are armed with simple or branched, sharp spines[].
Very attractive when in fruit, the plant is often grown in the garden both as an ornamental and for its fruit in tropical and subtropical areas[]. It is not usually grown commercially[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - India, Bangladesh.

Habitat

Dry, sunny places to elevations of 1,000 metres in Nepal[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Shrub
Height	4.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of subtropical to tropical areas, where it is found at elevations up to metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 23 - 30°c, but can tolerate 16 - 34°c[]. It can be killed by temperatures of -2°c or lower[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,000 - 1,400mm, but tolerates 700 - 2,700mm[].
Succeeds in full sun and in dappled shade[]. Prefers a medium-acid soil[]. Prefers a pH in the range 6.5 - 8, tolerating 6 - 8.5[].
Plants take about 3 years to come into bearing from seed, 1 - 3 years from cuttings[].
Plants can flower all year round[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[, ]. Very sour at maturity but it is sourish sweet when fully ripe[]. It can be eaten raw or stewed with sugar[, ]. In Thailand it is mainly used as pickles, however, it can also be made into jam, jellies and puddings. Furthermore, the fruit is also used to make beverages, curries and tarts[]. The purple to blackish, globose to broad ovoid fruit is about 10 - 25mm long[].

Medicinal

The fruits are astringent, antiscorbutic and also used as a remedy for biliousness[].

A leaf decoction is used against fever, diarrhoea, and earache[].

The roots serve as a stomachic, vermifuge and remedy for itches[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant responds well to trimming and is frequently grown as a hedge[, , ]. With its sharp spines, it makes an excellent barrier[, ].

Other Uses

The roots are used as an insect repellent[, ].

A white latex is found in the plant[, ].

The wood is hard and is used to make small utensils[, ]. It is used for making household furniture and for turning[].

Propagation

Seed -
Cuttings. Can be difficult[].
Air layering[]. Can be difficult[].

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