Arabian Num Num

Very little appears to be recorded about the biology of the bwa sandal, but information can be deduced from other botanical varieties of Carissa edulis inhabiting other parts of the world. In southern Africa, Carissa edulis flowers from September to December. The flowers, which contain both male and female reproductive organs, (the stamens and carpels), are pollinated by insects. The resulting cherry-like fruits appear on the tree from November until January, and are eventually eaten by animals, dispersing the seeds within the fruit to a new site where germination may occur, and a new plant may begin to grow (5).

All remaining populations of the bwa sandal occur within protected areas (1), but there is no information to indicate whether the protection is sufficient and well enough enforced to ensure the bwa sandal's survival.

The bwa sandal is a slender-branched tree that bears smooth, glossy, leaves (2) (3). The leaves, which measure up to seven centimetres in length, are dark green on the upper surface and pale beneath (4). At certain times of the year this tree may also be adorned with clusters of white, fragrant, tubular flowers, measuring up to 1.2 centimetres (4), and deep red berries, as large as cherries (3). The specific name, edulis, means edible (5), while sechellensis refers to the only country in which this botanical variety is found.

The remaining bwa sandal trees favour rocky habitats, often in exposed areas (2).

The bwa sandal occurs on the islands of Silhouette and Aldabra in the Seychelles (4). It used to also occur on Mahé, but became extinct on this island by 1874 (1).

Classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List 2007 (1).

The beautiful bwa sandal has been pushed to extreme rarity by felling for the production of aromatic oils, fuelwood (1), and to burn the aromatic wood which has the ability to deter mosquitoes and induce restful sleep (2) (4). In addition, habitat clearance is believed to be the cause of its extinction on Mahé (1). Very few mature bwa sandal trees now remain and this small and restricted population is considered to be in danger of extinction (1).

Gebel Elba.

Southeast Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, tropical east Africa, Senegal, Transvall, Namibia, Madagascar, Socotra, souther Arabia, Pakistan, India, Burma, Thailand, sri Lanka, Indian ocean.

Stony hillsides.

Perennial.

The roots are used to treat hepatitis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Shrubs or small trees to 5 m tall; spines simple or forked, 1.2-6 cm. Leaf blade ovate to elliptic, 0.5-5.5 X 0.3-2.5 cm, leathery, finely puberulent abaxially, base rounded or acute, apex acute or short acuminate; lateral veins 3-5 pairs, conspicuous. Cymes terminal or axillary, 3-7-flowered, finely puberulent. Sepals ca. 2.5 1 mm, without glands. Corolla white, tube ca. 1 cm, lobes 5-7 mm, overlapping to right; ovules 1 in each locule. Berries shining black, subglobose, 5-12 mm. Seeds 3-5 mm. Fl. Mar-May, fr. Sep-Dec. 2n = 22.

Bushes, roadsides, forest edges. Guizhou, Sichuan, Yunnan [India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand]

Carissa diffusa Roxburgh; C. yunnanensis Tsiang & P. T. Li.