Carissa lanceolata

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Bush plum, Conkerberry, currant bush

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Gentianales
Family:	Apocynaceae
Genus:	Carissa
Species:	C. lanceolata

Binomial name

Carissa lanceolata

An Australian native plant, C. lanceolata grows as a multi-stemmed shrub 0.5 to 2 metres in height. Leaves are glossy green, opposite, narrow ovate to lanceolate 1-5 cm in length. The stems also bear thorns 1-3cm in length. White, star-shaped flowers ~1cm across are followed by ovate green berries, 1-2cm in, length which turn black or dark purple when ripe. C. lanceolata is found throughout the drier areas of northern and central Australia on a wide range of terrains and soil types. In the wetter parts of its habitat the plant is commonly found on fine textured clay and clay loam soils, often in association with Eucalyptus populnea, E. brownii or Gidgee. In more arid regions the plant tends to be confined to areas of higher moisture such as at the base of hills or floodout areas.

C. lanceolata is frequently a weed in grazing land in northern Australia, choking out grassses, reducing the ability of livestock to feed, interfering with stock handling and providing a refuge for vermin. The plant is capable of reproducing rapidly by layering (producing roots and new plantlets where the the branches touch the soil) and is difficult to control mechanically and expensive to manage with herbicides.

In the moister eastern parts of its range C. lanceolata intergrades completely with the very closely related C. ovata which is distinguished by having rounder, shorter leaves. C. ovata in some locales also develops a more robust growth form with plants reaching 3metres or more in height.

The fruit of C. lanceolata are edible with a sweet flavour. The fruit is known as Merne arrankweye in the Arrernte language of Central Australia and are variously called conkerberries native currants or black currants in English. The Anmatyerr call it anwekety; the Pintupi call it nganango. Bush plum is also a popular food for emus and bush turkeys and many other birds in it range.