Karoo Num-Num

The Karoo Num-Num bush (Carissa haematocarpa), or in Afrikaans Karoonoem-noem bush was as good as a candy store for the Khoi-Khoin in earlier years. The purple fruits are deliciously sweet and deliciously spoiled. There is another Noem-Noem species (Carissa bispinosa) that is more common on the south coast up to the east coast to Limpopo, the fruits of which are redder. The Karoonoem-noem is also abundant in the Klein Karoo, and its range extends up to Namibia. As you can see in the photos, the peel produces a lovely purple colour and stains it slightly. I couldn't find any information in my search about someone using the purple pigment, but I think it could be used to dye or paint something nice. If anyone knows of anything, please let me know.

Thunberg was the first to record Carissa haematocarpa in 1773, and it was later described by Burchell in 1811. The name "noem-noem" is simply an onomatopoeia, referring to the sound of someone eating something sweet because it is deliciously sweet.

Sources:

A, S. C. (1966). Common Names of South African Plants. Pretoria: Department of Agriculture Technical Services – Botanical Research Institute.

Coetzee, R. a. (2009). Khoi-Khoin-Kultuurgoed en Kom-Kuier-Kos. Pretoria: LAPA Publishers.

www.inaturalist.org. (2025, Junie 4). Retrieved from iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/528768-Carissa-haematocarpa