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''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.〔Sparrow, Jacqueline and Gil Hanly. (2002), ''Subtropical Plants: A Practical Gardening Guide'', Portland, OR: Timber Press, Inc.〕 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.〔(Floridata page for ''Carissa macrocarpa'' )〕 However this claim is a myth, possibly based on similarities to other plants with milky sap.〔(''Carissa macrocarpa'' (Eckl.) A.DC., University of Pretoria Botanical Garden, accessed 4 February 2013 )〕 The California Poison Control System rates the plant as mildly toxic.〔(CPCS: Toxic Plants, accessed 4 February 2013 )〕 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.〔 == Distribution == ''Carissa macrocarpa'' grows mainly in coastal areas in South Africa. It can be found on sand dunes and on the edges of coastal forests in Eastern Cape Province northwards from Natal to Mozambique. Today the plant is also growing commonly in southern Florida and is cultivated in southern California. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Carissa macrocarpa」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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