Thursday, 6 August 2026

Carissa spinarum L.

Carissa spinarum L.

kar-ISS-uh -- Latinized form of Indian vernacular name for this genus ... Dave's Botanary
spi-NAH-rum -- Latin: spina (thorn, spine); arum (of the); literally translates to "of thorns" or "of the spines" ... compiled from the web
commonly known as: wild karanda • Bengali: করমচা karamcha • Dogri: गरना garna, गरंडा garanda, गरौंदा garaunda • Garhwali: गरणा garna, करोंधू karondhu, करूंदा karunda, खर्नू kharnu • Gojari: गरच्छ garach, ग्रँडा granda • Gujarati: કારિંદા karinda • Haryanvi: जंगली करौंदा jungli karonda • Hindi: गरने garnae, जंगली करौंदा jungli karonda, करोंदी karondi • Kannada: ಚಿಕ್ಕಕವಳಿ chikka kavali, ಕರಿಚಿ karichi, ನಾಯಿಕಲಮೆ naayikalame • Kol: कनुवान 𑢪𑢫𑢵𑢾𑢫 kanuwan • Konkani: व्हडली काण्टां vhadli kantam • Kumaoni: करौंदा karaunda, करूंदा karunda • Kurukh: कनुवान কনূবান କନୁୱାନ kanuwan • Malayalam: ചെറുമുൾച്ചെടി cherumulchedi, ചെറുമുള്ളി cherumulli, മുള്ളി mulli • Marathi: करवंद karvanda • Nepali: जङ्गली करौँदा jangalee karaundaa • Odia: ଆଙ୍କୁକୋଳି ankukoli, ଦୁଧକୋଳି dudhakoli, ଖିରିକୋଳି khirikoli, ସାନ କରେଣ୍ଡା san karenda • Pahari: गरौंदा garaunda, गरणा garna, गुरणू gurnu, करौंदा karaunda • Punjabi: ਗਣ gan, ਮਰਦਕ mardak • Rajasthani: करोन्दा karonda • Sanskrit: करमर्दिका karamardika • Santali: ᱡᱟᱹᱱᱩᱢ janum, ᱠᱟᱸᱲᱣᱟᱠ karwak • Tamil: சிறுகளா chirukala • Telugu: చిన్న కలివి channa kalavi, కలే కాయ kale kaaya, కలిమి kalimi, వాకకాయ vaaka-kaaya, వాకిర్లు wakirlu • Tulu: ಕರಂಡೆ karande

known for / parts made use of: the fruit (nutritional & culinary), the roots (medicinal), the leaves and bark (therapeutic), the stems and spines (dead hedge as well as living fence) ... compiled from the web.
botanical names: Carissa spinarum L. ... heterotypic synonyms: Carissa carandas var. congesta (Wight) Bedd. • Carissa congesta Wight • Carissa diffusa Roxb. • Carissa inermis Vahl • Carissa opaca Stapf ex Haines ... and more at POWO, retrieved August 04, 2026
Bibliography / etymology / notes
Links listed as references in the notes below, may not remain valid permanently. Portals / websites have a tendency to re-organize / revise their content, leading to change in URLs of pages in their site. Some sites may even close down at their own will. The bits about the languages of India mentioned below are merely some bare facts gathered from the internet; just enough to satisfy curiosity about "where" could the listed names be best prevalent in India. All English transliterated names to be taken sensu amplo.
~~~~~ ENGLISH ~~~~~
written and spoken widely, in most parts of India
wild karanda (the true karanda)
~~~~~ BENGALI ~~~~~
written in: Bengali (বাংলা) ... spoken in: West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand, Tripura, Andaman & Nicobar Islands
করমচা karamcha
~~~~~ DOGRI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (डोगरी) ... spoken in: Jammu & Kashmir ... spoken by the Dogras
गरना garna (or: गड़ना garna, variants: गिरना girna, गिड़ना girna), गरंडा garanda (or: गरांडा garanda, variant: ग्रन्डा granda)
गरौंदा garaunda
  • The Useful Plants of India (CSIR, Publications & Information Directorate)
  • While CSIR's publication "The Useful Plants of India" and its parent volume "The Wealth of India" formally log Garaunda under the geographical marker "Kashmir" this is actually an administrative and linguistic carryover from colonial-era surveys. Carissa spinarum grows abundantly in the subtropical, dry Shivalik and Kandi hill belts of Jammu (bordering Punjab), but it does not naturally survive or grow in the cold, temperate climate of the Kashmir Valley itself. In the 19th century, British surveyors used "Kashmir" broadly to denote the entire princely state of Jammu & Kashmir. The word Garaunda (गरौंदा) is a regional, Dogri / Hindustani dialectical variant spoken in the Jammu hills rather than a native Kashmiri language word. ... compiled from the web.
~~~~~ GARHWALI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (गढ़वळि) ... spoken in: Uttarakhand
गरणा garna, करोंधू karondhu, करूंदा karunda, खर्नू kharnu
~~~~~ GOJARI ~~~~~
written in: Takri, Perso-Arabic, Devanagari ... spoken in: Jammu and Kashmir, northern Punjab, Himachal Pradesh ... also spelt as: Gojri, Gujari, Gujri ... spoken by: nomadic community of Gurjar (or also known by other names: Gujjar, Gujar, Gurjara)
गरच्छ garach, ग्रँडा granda
  • Many thanks to OM Prakash Vidyarthi for help with these names ... facebook
~~~~~ GUJARATI ~~~~~
written in: Gujarati (ગુજરાતી) ... spoken in: Gujarat, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu
કારિંદા karinda
~~~~~ HARYANVI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (हरियाणवी or हरयाणवी) ... spoken in: Haryana, Delhi
जंगली करौंदा jungli karonda
  • Haryana Forest Flora - A Comprehensive Database of Ligneous Plants of Haryana (India) ... (accessed: August 05, 2026)
~~~~~ HINDI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (हिन्दी) ... spoken in: Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand
गरने garnae, जंगली करौंदा jungli karonda
करोंदी karondi
~~~~~ KANNADA ~~~~~
written in: Kannada (ಕನ್ನಡ) ... spoken in: Karnataka
ಚಿಕ್ಕಕವಳಿ chikka kavali, ಕರಿಚಿ karichi, ನಾಯಿಕಲಮೆ naayikalame
~~~~~ KOL ~~~~~
written in: Warang Chiti (or Barang Kshiti, Varang Kshiti), Devanagari ... spoken in: Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal ... spoken by: Kol people
कनुवान 𑢪𑢫𑢵𑢾𑢫 kanuwan
~~~~~ KONKANI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (कोंकणी) / Kannada (ಕೊಂಕಣಿ) / Malayalam (കൊങ്കണി) / Perso-Arabic (کونکنی) / Romi (Konknni) ... spoken in: Goa, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala, Gujarat
व्हडली काण्टां vhadli kantam
  • for Carissa inermis Vahl ... V D Vartak (1966) - Enumeration of plants from Gomantak India with a note on botanical excursions to the Castlerock area :: Chapter 5 :: Shodhganga :: a reservoir of Indian theses @ INFLIBNET
~~~~~ KUMAONI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari ... spoken in: Uttarakhand
करौंदा karaunda, करूंदा karunda
~~~~~ KURUKH ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (कुँड़ुख़), Assamese-Bangla (কুড়ুখ্), Odia (କୁଡ଼ୁଖ୍), Kurukh Banna and Tolong Siki ... spoken by the Kurukh (Oraon) and Kisan people ... spoken in: Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Assam, Bihar and Tripura ... other names for this language: Kurux, Oraon, Uraon, Uranw
कनुवान কনূবান କନୁୱାନ kanuwan
  • A forest flora of Chota Nagpur including Gangpur and the Santal-Parganahs by Haines, Henry Haselfoot, 1867-1943
  • कनुवान kanuwan (Devanagari in Jharkhand); কনূবান kanuwan (Bengali script in West Bengal); କନୁୱାନ kanuwan (Odia script in Odisha)
  • Note on Indigenous Typography: While modern cultural revival movements utilize the specialized Tolong Siki alphabet for the Kurukh language, the entry here is anchored via Devanagari, Bengali, and Odia scripts to mirror the historical geographic distribution of the Oraon communities across Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Odisha. This ensures digital cross-compatibility across all web-browsing frameworks while avoiding modern font-mapping artifacts. ... compiled from the web.
~~~~~ MALAYALAM ~~~~~
written in: Malayalam (മലയാളം) ... spoken in: Kerala, Lakshadweep
ചെറുമുൾച്ചെടി cherumulchedi
ചെറുമുള്ളി cherumulli
മുള്ളി mulli
~~~~~ MARATHI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (मराठी) ... spoken in: Maharashtra, Karnataka
करवंद karvanda
~~~~~ NEPALI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (नेपाली) ... spoken in: Nepal, West Bengal, Assam, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir
जङ्गली करौँदा jangalee karaundaa
  • Many thanks to Saroj Kumar Kasaju for help with this name ... eFloraofIndia
~~~~~ ODIA ~~~~~
written in: Odia (ଓଡ଼ିଆ) ... spoken in: Odisha, Andaman & Nicobar Islands
ଆଙ୍କୁକୋଳି ankukoli, ସାନ କରେଣ୍ଡା san karenda
ଦୁଧକୋଳି dudhakoli
ଖିରିକୋଳି khirikoli
~~~~~ PAHARI (or PAHADI) ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (पहाड़ी), Perso-Arabic (پہاڑی) ... variety of languages, dialects and language groups, spoken in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand
गरौंदा garaunda, गरणा garna, गुरणू gurnu, करौंदा karaunda
  • Green Audit Report — Swami Vivekanand Government College, Ghumarwin, District Bilaspur (H.P.) ... (accessed: August 05, 2026)
~~~~~ PUNJABI ~~~~~
written in: Gurmukhi (ਪੰਜਾਬੀ) ... spoken in: Punjab
ਗਣ gan, ਮਰਦਕ mardak
~~~~~ RAJASTHANI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (राजस्थानी) ... spoken in: Rajasthan
करोन्दा karonda (or करौंदा karaunda)
~~~~~ SANSKRIT ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (संस्कृतम्) ... used all over India by priests and scholars
करमर्दिका karamardika
~~~~~ SANTALI ~~~~~
written in: Ol Chiki (ᱥᱟᱱᱛᱟᱲᱤ), Bengali (সাঁওতালী), Odia (ସାନ୍ତାଳୀ), Devanagari (सान्ताली), Roman ... spoken in: Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha
ᱡᱟᱹᱱᱩᱢ janum, ᱠᱟᱸᱲᱣᱟᱠ karwak
~~~~~ TAMIL ~~~~~
written in: Tamil (தமிழ்) ... spoken in: Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Andaman & Nicobar Islands
சிறுகளா chirukala (or சிறுகிளா chirukila)
~~~~~ TELUGU ~~~~~
written in: Telugu ( తెలుగు) ... spoken in: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Puducherry
చిన్న కలివి channa kalavi, కలే కాయ kale kaaya, కలిమి kalimi, వాకిర్లు wakirlu
వాకకాయ vaaka-kaaya
~~~~~ TULU ~~~~~
written in: Tigalari (Tulu) was used for writing Vedic texts in Sanskrit, Kannada (ತುಳು), Malayalam (തുളു) ... spoken in: Karnataka, north Kerala
ಕರಂಡೆ karande (or ಕರಂಡೆ ಕಾಯಿ karande kaayi)
~~~~~ KNOWN DISTRIBUTION in INDIA ~~~~~
Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal
TAXONOMIC NOTE ON VERNACULAR OVERLAP
In 1850, Robert Wight published Carissa congesta to describe the wild, small-fruited, black-berried shrub abundant across the Western Ghats (the true Karvanda). However, colonial botanists struggled to separate it from Carissa carandas, leading to a long-standing taxonomic entanglement in Indian botanical literature. Authors historically merged the two plants by either treating C. congesta as a direct synonym under C. carandas, or reducing it to a variety known as Carissa carandas var. congesta.
Today, modern databases like POWO have officially untangled this relationship. They have split the earlier synonymy and placed Carissa congesta under Carissa spinarum. Because C. congesta journeyed from an independent species to a synonym of C. carandas, and finally to its current placement under C. spinarum, local names like Karavanda and Karaunda continue to be used interchangeably between carandas and spinarum in regional literature.
~~~~~ Created on: 12:06 04-08-2026 ¦ Last updated: 16:48 06-08-2026 (DD-MM-YYYY) ~~~~~
Apocynaceae tropical perennial evergreen shrub climber straggler "Carissa spinarum" "Carissa carandas var. congesta" "Carissa congesta" "Carissa diffusa" "Carissa inermis" "Carissa opaca" "wild karanda"
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Saturday, 1 August 2026

Carissa carandas L.

Carissa carandas L.

kar-ISS-uh -- Latinized form of Indian vernacular name for this genus ... Dave's Botanary
kuh-RAN-das or ka-RAN-duhz -- Latinized form of the Konkani / Marathi name (करांदा karanda) of this plant ... compiled from the web
commonly known as: Bengal currant, karanda • Ahom: কৰ্জা টেঙা karja tenga • Assamese: কৰ্জা টেঙা korja tenga • Bengali: করমচা karamcha • Dogri: बड्डा गरना badda garna, बागी गरना baagi garna • Gujarati: કરમદી karamdi • Haryanvi: करौंदा karaunda • Hindi: बलालक balalak, डिण्डिम dindim, करौंदा karaunda, कृष्ण krishna, पाकफल pak-phal, सुषेण sushen • Kannada: ಅವಿಗ್ನ avigna, ಗರ್ಜಿ garji, ಹರೀಕಳಿವಿ harikalivi, ಕಳವೆ kalave, ಕಮರಿಕೆ kamarike, ಕಣಬೆ kanabe, ಕರಮರ್ದ karamarda, ಕರಂಡ karanda, ಕರವಡೀ karavadi, ಕರಿಚೆ kariche, ಕವಳ kavala, ಕೊರಿಂಡ korinda, ಕೃಷ್ಣಪಾಕಫಲ krishna-paakaphala, ಸುಷೇಣ sushena • Kol: कनुवान 𑢪𑢫𑢵𑢾𑢫 kanuwan • Konkani: ಕಾರಾಂಜ kaaraanja, काण्टां kantam, करवंदी karvandi • Kurukh: कनुवान কনূবান କନୁୱାନ kanuwan • Malayalam: കാരക്ക kaarakka, കാരപ്പഴം kaarappazham, കളാവു kalaavu, കരണ്ടകം karantakam, കരിമുള്ളി karimulli, കറുത്തചെറി karuttacheri, ക്ലാവ് klavu • Marathi: करांदा karanda, कारिंदा karinda, करवंद karvanda • Nepali: करौंदा karaundaa, करौँजि karaunji • Odia: ଆଙ୍କୁକୋଳି ankukoli, କରମର୍ଦ୍ଦ karamardda, କରନ୍ଦା karanda, ନଳିନ nalina, ପାକ କୃଷ୍ଣpaka krushna, ରୋଚନ rochana, ସକଣ୍ଟକ sakantaka, ସୁଷେଣ sushena, ସୁଷ୍ମ sushma • Pahari: गारींगा garinga, गोठो gotho, गुरणा gurna, करौंदा karaunda, तिमुखिया timukhia • Punjabi: ਕੌਂਦਾ karaunda • Rajasthani: करोंदा karonda • Sanskrit: अविग्न avigna, डिण्डिम dindima, करमर्द karamarda, करमर्दी karamardi, कराम्बुक karambuka, कृष्ण krshna, कृष्णपाक krshnapaka, क्षीरफल kshiraphala, नलिनदल nalinadala, पाककृष्ण pakakrshna, पाकफल pakaphala, पाणिमर्द panimarda, फलकृष्ण phalakrshna, फलपाक phalapaka, सुषेण shushena, वनामल vanamala, वरालक varalaka, वराम्र varamra, वारिवर varivara, वश vasha, विघ्न vighna • Santali: ᱡᱟᱹᱱᱩᱢ janum, ᱠᱟᱸᱲᱣᱟᱠ karwak, ᱠᱟᱸᱲᱣᱟᱛ karwat • Tamil: களாக்காய் kalakkay, பெருங்களா perunkala • Telugu: కలివెచెట్టు kalive-chettu, ఓకచెట్టు oka-chettu, పెద్దకలివి pedda kalivi, పెద్దవాక్కాయ pedda vaaka-kaaya, వాకకాయ vaaka-kaaya • Tulu: ಕರಂಡೆ ಪುಳಿಮರ karande pulimara • Urdu: بلالك balalak, ڐنڐم dindim, کروندا karaunda, کرشن krishna, پاک پھل pak-phal, سشين sushen

known for / parts made use of: fruits, roots, leaves, bark, milky latex, the thorns & whole shrub (living fence) ... compiled from the web
botanical names: Carissa carandas L. ... homotypic synonyms: Arduina carandas (L.) Baill. • Jasminonerium carandas (L.) Kuntze • Capparis carandas (L.) Burm.f. ... heterotypic synonyms: Carissa salicina Lam. • Echites spinosus Burm.f. • Jasminonerium salicinum (Lam.) Kuntze ... and more at POWO, retrieved July 29, 2026
Bibliography / etymology / notes
Links listed as references in the notes below, may not remain valid permanently. Portals / websites have a tendency to re-organize / revise their content, leading to change in URLs of pages in their site. Some sites may even close down at their own will. The bits about the languages of India mentioned below are merely some bare facts gathered from the internet; just enough to satisfy curiosity about "where" could the listed names be best prevalent in India. All English transliterated names to be taken sensu amplo.
~~~~~ ENGLISH ~~~~~
written and spoken widely, in most parts of India
Bengal currant
  • Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia ... (accessed: July 29, 2026)
  • Name coined during the colonial era — the clusters of dark, ripe berries heavily resemble true European currants (Ribes); it grew abundantly across the Bengal Presidency. ... compiled from the web.
karanda
~~~~~ AHOM ~~~~~
written in: Ahom, Latin, Assamese ... mainly used by priests and scholars for religious and educational purposes; spoken in: erstwhile Ahom kingdom (some part in present day Assam) ... other names for this language: Tai-Ahom
কৰ্জা টেঙা karja tenga
~~~~~ ASSAMESE ~~~~~
written in: Assamese (অসমীয়া) ... spoken in: Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya
কৰ্জা টেঙা korja tenga
  • XOBDO - Your gateway to multilingual knowledge and resources ... (accessed: August 01, 2026)
~~~~~ BENGALI ~~~~~
written in: Bengali (বাংলা) ... spoken in: West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand, Tripura, Andaman & Nicobar Islands
করমচা karamcha
~~~~~ DOGRI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (डोगरी) ... spoken in: Jammu & Kashmir ... spoken by the Dogras
बड्डा गरना badda garna, बागी गरना baagi garna
  • Many thanks to OM Prakash Vidyarthi for help with these names ... facebook
~~~~~ GUJARATI ~~~~~
written in: Gujarati (ગુજરાતી) ... spoken in: Gujarat, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu
કરમદી karamdi
~~~~~ HARYANVI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (हरियाणवी or हरयाणवी) ... spoken in: Haryana, Delhi
करौंदा karaunda
~~~~~ HINDI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (हिन्दी) ... spoken in: Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand
बलालक balalak, डिण्डिम dindim, करौंदा karaunda (or करोंदा karonda), कृष्ण krishna, पाकफल pak-phal, सुषेण sushen
~~~~~ KANNADA ~~~~~
written in: Kannada (ಕನ್ನಡ) ... spoken in: Karnataka
ಅವಿಗ್ನ avigna, ಕಮರಿಕೆ kamarike, ಸುಷೇಣ sushena
ಗರ್ಜಿ garji, ಕಣಬೆ kanabe, ಕರಿಚೆ kariche
ಹರೀಕಳಿವಿ harikalivi (or ಹರಿಕಳವಿ hari kalavi)
ಕಳವೆ kalave, ಕರಮರ್ದ karamarda (or ಕರಮರ್ದಕ karamardaka, ಕರಮರಿಕೆ karamarike), ಕೃಷ್ಣಪಾಕಫಲ krishna-paakaphala
ಕರಂಡ karanda (or ಕರಂಡೆ karande)
ಕರವಡೀ karavadi, ಕೊರಿಂಡ korinda
ಕವಳ kavala (or ಕವಳೆ kavale, ಕವಳಿ kavali | extended: ಕವಳಿಕಾಯಿ ಗಿಡ kavalikaayi gida)
~~~~~ KOL ~~~~~
written in: Warang Chiti (or Barang Kshiti, Varang Kshiti), Devanagari ... spoken in: Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal ... spoken by: Kol people
कनुवान 𑢪𑢫𑢵𑢾𑢫 kanuwan
~~~~~ KONKANI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (कोंकणी) / Kannada (ಕೊಂಕಣಿ) / Malayalam (കൊങ്കണി) / Perso-Arabic (کونکنی) / Romi (Konknni) ... spoken in: Goa, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala, Gujarat
ಕಾರಾಂಜ kaaraanja
काण्टां kantam
करवंदी karvandi
  • V D Vartak (1966) - Enumeration of plants from Gomantak India with a note on botanical excursions to the Castlerock area :: Chapter 5 :: Shodhganga :: a reservoir of Indian theses @ INFLIBNET
  • The term करवंदी karvandi is utilized primarily by field foragers and foresters to designate the living, thorny, sprawling shrub itself as it grows in the wild scrub terrain, as such the plant's habit is considered feminine. The term करवंदो karvando is triggered when referring specifically to the harvested individual berry. ... compiled from the web.
~~~~~ KURUKH ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (कुँड़ुख़), Assamese-Bangla (কুড়ুখ্), Odia (କୁଡ଼ୁଖ୍), Kurukh Banna and Tolong Siki ... spoken by the Kurukh (Oraon) and Kisan people ... spoken in: Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Assam, Bihar and Tripura ... other names for this language: Kurux, Oraon, Uraon, Uranw
कनुवान কনূবান କନୁୱାନ kanuwan
  • A forest flora of Chota Nagpur including Gangpur and the Santal-Parganahs by Haines, Henry Haselfoot, 1867-1943
  • कनुवान kanuwan (Devanagari in Jharkhand); কনূবান kanuwan (Bengali script in West Bengal); କନୁୱାନ kanuwan (Odia script in Odisha)
  • Note on Indigenous Typography: While modern cultural revival movements utilize the specialized Tolong Siki alphabet for the Kurukh language, the entry here is anchored via Devanagari, Bengali, and Odia scripts to mirror the historical geographic distribution of the Oraon communities across Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Odisha. This ensures digital cross-compatibility across all web-browsing frameworks while avoiding modern font-mapping artifacts. ... compiled from the web.
~~~~~ MALAYALAM ~~~~~
written in: Malayalam (മലയാളം) ... spoken in: Kerala, Lakshadweep
കാരക്ക kaarakka, ക്ലാവ് klavu
  • Subrahmanya, Prasad K - Exploration and elucidation of traditional medicinal plants of erstwhile Tulunadu and surrounding area of Kerala and Karnataka :: Chapter 4 :: Shodhganga - a reservoir of Indian theses @ INFLIBNET
  • കാരക്ക kaarakka — derived from the standard Malayalam noun, historically used to designate a dried date (Phoenix dactylifera). The application of this name to Carissa carandas represents a brilliant visual analogy born out of rural foraging cultures. When the green berries reach peak maturity, they shrivel slightly on the spiny branches, losing their glossy pink hue and darkening into a deep, wrinkled, oblong midnight-purple or brownish-black format. Because these clusters of dried, wild-ripened berries bear an uncanny physical resemblance to small strings of dried dates, indigenous foraging communities natively branded them as the "forest dates" — Kaarakka. ... compiled from the web.
  • ക്ലാവ് klavu — a traditional Malayalam noun representing the natural green-blue patina, oxide, or verdigris that forms on copper and bronze alloys over time. Metaphorically, it describes the distinctive chalky, bluish-green matte bloom that coats the unripe berries before full maturation. Practico-domestically, the highly acidic juices of the raw fruit and leaves were anciently deployed by rural households as a natural cleansing scour to polish brassware and chemically strip away metallic tarnish (klavu). ... compiled from the web.
കാരപ്പഴം kaarappazham
  • വിക്കിപീഡിയ - സ്വതന്ത്രസർവ്വവിജ്ഞാനകോശം ... Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia ... (accessed: July 31, 2026)
  • കാരപ്പഴം kaarappazham — a deeply authentic, traditional Malayalam vernacular compound name, derived by uniting the ancestral Dravidian descriptor കാര kaara (a thorny scrub-bush) with പഴം pazham (ripe fruit). It is quite an eminent colloquial term preserved in the oral traditions and rural foraging cultures of Kerala. ... compiled from the web.
കളാവു kalaavu, കരണ്ടകം karantakam
കരിമുള്ളി karimulli
  • Nazarudeen, A., Shareef, S. M., Kalesh, K. S., Salim, M., Hussain, A., Shaju, T., Rajvikraman, R., & Prakashkumar, R. (2022). Wild and lesser-known fruit germplasm in JNTBGRI: An approach for ex-situ conservation. - Indian Horticulture, 67(3). ... (downloaded: Oct 30, 2024)
  • കരിമുള്ളി karimulli — a classic descriptive compound name uniting the Dravidian roots: കരി kari, meaning "black, dark, or charred" with മുള്ളി mulli, meaning "thorny plant" or "thorn-bearer". ... compiled from the web.
കറുത്തചെറി karuttacheri
  • Enchanting India - Medicinal Plants Of India ... (accessed: July 31, 2026)
  • വിക്കിപീഡിയ - സ്വതന്ത്രസർവ്വവിജ്ഞാനകോശം ... Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia ... (accessed: July 31, 2026)
  • കറുത്തചെറി karuttacheri literally translates to "Black Cherry". A modern descriptive colloquial compound name combining കറുത്ത karutta (black) and ചെറി cheri (cherry). ... compiled from the web.
  • The name directly reflects the fruit's physical transformation upon full maturation, where the clusters turn a glossy, deep purple-black. Crucially, the name carries significant commercial weight in Kerala; Carissa carandas berries are traditionally processed, de-seeded, and candied to manufacture the ubiquitous "glacé cherries" used across the South Indian baking industry. ... compiled from the web [↗].
~~~~~ MARATHI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (मराठी) ... spoken in: Maharashtra, Karnataka
करांदा karanda (or कारंदा karanda)
कारिंदा karinda
  • Molesworth, J. T. (James Thomas). A dictionary, Marathi and English. 2d ed., rev. and enl. Bombay: Printed for government at the Bombay Education Society's press, 1857.
करवंद karvanda (or करवंदी karvandi)
~~~~~ NEPALI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (नेपाली) ... spoken in: Nepal, West Bengal, Assam, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir
करौंदा karaundaa
  • Many thanks to Saroj Kumar Kasaju for help with this name ... eFloraofIndia
करौँजि karaunji
~~~~~ ODIA ~~~~~
written in: Odia (ଓଡ଼ିଆ) ... spoken in: Odisha, Andaman & Nicobar Islands
ଆଙ୍କୁକୋଳି ankukoli
କରମର୍ଦ୍ଦ karamardda, କରନ୍ଦା karanda, ନଳିନ nalina, ପାକ କୃଷ୍ଣpaka krushna, ରୋଚନ rochana, ସକଣ୍ଟକ sakantaka, ସୁଷେଣ sushena, ସୁଷ୍ମ sushma
~~~~~ PAHARI (or PAHADI) ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (पहाड़ी), Perso-Arabic (پہاڑی) ... variety of languages, dialects and language groups, spoken in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand
गारींगा garinga, गोठो gotho, गुरणा gurna, करौंदा karaunda, तिमुखिया timukhia
  • Green Audit Report — Swami Vivekanand Government College, Ghumarwin, District Bilaspur (H.P.) ... (accessed: August 01, 2026)
~~~~~ PUNJABI ~~~~~
written in: Gurmukhi (ਪੰਜਾਬੀ) ... spoken in: Punjab
ਕੌਂਦਾ karaunda
  • Singh, Maya. The Panjabi dictionary. Lahore: Munshi Gulab Singh & Sons, 1895.
  • While Bhai Maya Singh's dictionary guides the reader with the Hindi-aligned English transliteration "karauṇdá", a strict linguistic decryption of the Gurmukhi script entry ਕੌਂਦਾ reveals it is explicitly spelled and pronounced as Kauṇdā. In the everyday spoken language of the Punjab plains, the tongue drops the interior 'R' sound, compressing it into the sleek, punchy local variant Kauṇdā. ... compiled from the web.
~~~~~ RAJASTHANI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (राजस्थानी) ... spoken in: Rajasthan
करोंदा karonda
~~~~~ SANSKRIT ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (संस्कृतम्) ... used all over India by priests and scholars
अविग्न avigna, डिण्डिम dindima, करमर्द karamarda (or करमर्दक karamardaka), करमर्दी karamardi, कराम्बुक karambuka, कृष्ण krshna, कृष्णपाक krshnapaka, क्षीरफल kshiraphala, नलिनदल nalinadala, पाककृष्ण pakakrshna, पाकफल pakaphala, पाणिमर्द panimarda, फलकृष्ण phalakrshna, फलपाक phalapaka, सुषेण shushena, वनामल vanamala, वरालक varalaka, वराम्र varamra, वारिवर varivara, वश vasha, विघ्न vighna
  • Learn Sanskrit - पठत संस्कृतम् - शब्दकोशः
~~~~~ SANTALI ~~~~~
written in: Ol Chiki (ᱥᱟᱱᱛᱟᱲᱤ), Bengali (সাঁওতালী), Odia (ସାନ୍ତାଳୀ), Devanagari (सान्ताली), Roman ... spoken in: Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha
ᱠᱟᱸᱲᱣᱟᱠ karwak, ᱡᱟᱹᱱᱩᱢ janum
ᱠᱟᱸᱲᱣᱟᱛ karwat
~~~~~ TAMIL ~~~~~
written in: Tamil (தமிழ்) ... spoken in: Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Andaman & Nicobar Islands
களாக்காய் kalakkay
  • University of Madras. Tamil lexicon. [Madras], University of Madras, 1924-1936.
  • The Useful Plants of India (CSIR, Publications & Information Directorate)
  • களாக்காய் kalakkay — a descriptive compound uniting the ancient Tamil generic base களா kala — used to designate the Carissa genus with காய் kay, denoting a raw, unripe fruit. ... compiled from the web.
பெருங்களா perunkala
  • University of Madras. Tamil lexicon. [Madras], University of Madras, 1924-1936.
  • பெரு peru or பெரும் perum = large, big; களா kala represents the Carissa genus. While the strictly wild, aggressively thorny cousin Carissa spinarum was labeled சிறுங்களா sirunkala due to its diminutive leaves and tiny, sparse berries, the larger, semi-cultivated, fleshy-fruited Carissa carandas was naturally designated as பெருங்களா perunkala. ... compiled from the web.
~~~~~ TELUGU ~~~~~
written in: Telugu ( తెలుగు) ... spoken in: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Puducherry
కలివెచెట్టు kalive-chettu, ఓకచెట్టు oka-chettu, వాకకాయ vaaka-kaaya (or వాక్కాయ vaakkaaya)
పెద్దకలివి pedda kalivi, పెద్దవాక్కాయ pedda vaaka-kaaya
~~~~~ TULU ~~~~~
written in: Tigalari (Tulu) was used for writing Vedic texts in Sanskrit, Kannada (ತುಳು), Malayalam (തുളു) ... spoken in: Karnataka, north Kerala
ಕರಂಡೆ ಪುಳಿಮರ karande pulimara (archaic typeset as: ಕಂರ್ಡೆ ಪುಳಿಮರ karnde pulimara / ಕಂರ್ಡೇಪುಳಿ karnde-puli)
~~~~~ URDU ~~~~~
written in: Urdu (اردو) ... spoken in: Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Bihar, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka
بلالك balalak, ڐنڐم dindim, کروندا karaunda, کرشن krishna, پاک پھل pak-phal, سشين sushen
~~~~~ KNOWN DISTRIBUTION in INDIA ~~~~~
Native to the west coast, Western Ghats and sub-Himalayan foothills; thrives naturally in drought-resistant pocket regions of tropical and subtropical scrub, dry-deciduous forest fringes; cultivated elsewhere.
  • compiled from the web.
~~~~~ Created on: 21:45 29-07-2026 ¦ Last updated: 17:29 02-08-2026 (DD-MM-YYYY) ~~~~~
Apocynaceae tropical perennial evergreen shrub climber straggler "Carissa carandas" "Arduina carandas" "Jasminonerium carandas" "Capparis carandas" "Carissa salicina" "Echites spinosus" "Jasminonerium salicinum" "Bengal currant" "karanda"
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Tuesday, 28 July 2026

Calotropis procera (Aiton) W.T.Aiton

Calotropis procera (Aiton) W.T.Aiton

kal-LOW-troh-pis -- Greek: kalos (beautiful); tropis (ship's keel) ... Dave's Botanary
PRO-ker-uh or pro-KER-uh -- tall ... Dave's Botanary
commonly known as: rubber bush, Sodom apple • Bengali: ছোট আকন্দ chhota akondo • Bhojpuri: अकौंन akaon • Dogri: दरियाई अक्क daryai akk, देसी अक्क desi akk, निक्का अक्क nikka akk • Gujarati: આકડો akado, નાનો આકડો nano akado, નાનો રૂઇ nano rui, રાતો આકડો rato akado • Haryanvi: आक aak, अक ak, अकड़ा akra, अणकटा ankta, मदार madar • Hindi: आक aak, अकड़ा akada, मदार madar • Kachchhi: આક aak, અક ak, આકડો akado • Kannada: ಎಕ್ಕದ ಗಿಡ ekkada gida, ಹೆಣ್ಣುಎಕ್ಕೆಯ ಗಿಡ hennu'ekkeya gida, ಕರಿ ಎಕ್ಕದ ಗಿಡ kari ekkada gida, ಕೆಂಪು ಎಕ್ಕದ ಗಿಡ kempu ekkada gida • Kol: पलती palati • Konkani: रुई rui • Kumaoni: अक ak • Malayalam: ചിറ്റെരിക്ക് chitterikku, എരിക്ക് erikku • Manipuri: ꯑꯡꯀꯣꯠ angkot • Marathi: लालमांदार lalmandar, मांदार mandar, रुई rui, तांबडाअकडा tambara-akara • Mishing: আকন-আচিং akon-asing • Nagpuri: अकौंन akaon • Nepali: बाह्रमासे आँक bahramaase aank • Nyishi: akon-asing • Odia: ଅରଖ arakha • Pahari: आक aak, अक ak, मदार madar • Punjabi: ਅੱਕ akk, ਦਰਿਆਈ ਅੱਕ daryai akk, ਦੇਸੀ ਅੱਕ desi akk, ਮਦਾਰ madar, ਨਿੱਕਾ ਅੱਕ nikka akk • Rajasthani: आंक ank, आंकडा ankada, मदार madar • Rangpuri: আকন ankon • Sanskrit: आदित्यपुष्पिका adityapushpika, अलर्क alarka, अर्क arka, आस्फोत asphota, गणरूप ganurupa, काष्ठील kashtila, मन्दार mandara, प्रताप pratapa, राजार्क rajarka, रवि ravi, सदापुष्प sadapushpa, शर्करापुष्प sharkarapushpa, शुकफल shukaphala, तूलफल tulaphala, विकीरण vikirana, वृत्तमल्लिका vrttamallika • Santali: ᱟᱠᱟᱣᱱᱟ akaona • Sindhi: اڪٽٽڙو akatatido, آڪ akk, اڪ aku • Tagin: akon-asing • Tamil: எருக்கு erukku • Telugu: ఎర్ర జిల్లేడు erra jilledu, జిల్లేడు jilledu, మందారము mandaramu, నల్ల జిల్లేడు nalla jilledu

known for / parts made use of: whole plant, roots and root bark, stem bark fibers, leaves, flowers, seed floss (pod cotton), milky latex ... compiled from the web.
botanical names: Calotropis procera (Aiton) W.T.Aiton ... homotypic synonyms: Asclepias procera Aiton • Madorius procerus (Aiton) Kuntze ... and more at POWO, retrieved 23 July 2026
Bibliography / etymology / notes
Links listed as references in the notes below, may not remain valid permanently. Portals / websites have a tendency to re-organize / revise their content, leading to change in URLs of pages in their site. Some sites may even close down at their own will. The bits about the languages of India mentioned below are merely some bare facts gathered from the internet; just enough to satisfy curiosity about "where" could the listed names be best prevalent in India. All English transliterated names to be taken sensu amplo.
~~~~~ ENGLISH ~~~~~
written and spoken widely, in most parts of India
rubber bush
  • Flowers of India ... (accessed: July 23, 2026)
  • Habeeb A, Ramesh S, Shanmugam R. Calotropis procera and the Pharmacological Properties of Its Aqueous Leaf Extract: A Review. - Cureus. 2024 May 15;16(5):e60354. doi: 10.7759/cureus.60354. PMID: 38883127; PMCID: PMC11178124. ... (accessed: July 23, 2026)
  • EPPO (2026) EPPO Global Database. Calotropis procera ... (accessed: July 23, 2026)
  • The name "rubber bush" is an internationally recognized common name for Calotropis procera. The moniker directly references the plant's copious, thick, milky white latex that oozes immediately from any cut stem or leaf. This latex dries into a rubbery, resilient film and contains hydrocarbons structurally similar to natural rubber. ... compiled from the web.
Sodom apple (or "apple of Sodom")
~~~~~ BENGALI ~~~~~
written in: Bengali (বাংলা) ... spoken in: West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand, Tripura, Andaman & Nicobar Islands
ছোট আকন্দ chhota akondo
  • উইকিপিডিয়া - একটি মুক্ত বিশ্বকোষ ... Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia ... (accessed: July 25, 2026)
  • ছোট chhota = small, lesser; আकন্দ akondo = Calotropis shrub. The size descriptor 'small' refers to the compact growth habit of Calotropis procera, which typically grows into a much shorter, shrubby form compared to the towering, woodier, tree-like structure of Calotropis gigantea.
~~~~~ BHOJPURI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (भोजपुरी) ... spoken in: eastern Uttar Pradesh, western Bihar and northwestern Jharkhand
अकौंन akaon
~~~~~ DOGRI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (डोगरी) ... spoken in: Jammu & Kashmir ... spoken by the Dogras
देसी अक्क desi akk
  • Many thanks to OM Prakash Vidyarthi for help with this name ... facebook
  • देसी desi = native, common, or local; अक्क akk = Calotropis shrub. The name highlights the plant's everyday abundance across the dry plains and lower foothills of the Jammu region, distinguishing this common wild shrub from its larger counterpart. ... compiled from the web.
दरियाई अक्क daryai akk, निक्का अक्क nikka akk
  • Sumeet Gairola, Jyotsana Sharma, Yashbir Singh Bedi - A cross-cultural analysis of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh (India) medicinal plant use - Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Volume 155, Issue 2, 2014, Pages 925-986, ISSN 0378-8741 ... (downloaded: Jan 29, 2022)
  • Bhatia, Harpreet & Sharma, Yash & Manhas, Rajesh & Kumar, Kewal. (2014). Traditional phytoremedies for the treatment of menstrual Disorders in district Udhampur, J & K, India. - Journal of ethnopharmacology. 10.1016/j.jep.2014.11.041. ... (downloaded: July 26, 2026)
  • दरियाई daryai = riverine; अक्क aak = Calotropis shrub. Thus translates literally to "the riverine calotrope". This unique name reflects authentic folk taxonomy; local communities in the Jammu foothills (like Kathua and Billawar) use the prefix daryai because this resilient shrub aggressively colonizes dry, gravelly riverbeds and flash-flood channels. ... compiled from the web.
  • निक्का nikka = small, little; अक्क akk = Calotropis shrub. The size descriptor 'small' refers to the compact growth habit of Calotropis procera, which typically grows into a much shorter, shrubby form compared to the towering structure of Calotropis gigantea.
~~~~~ GUJARATI ~~~~~
written in: Gujarati (ગુજરાતી) ... spoken in: Gujarat, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu
આકડો akado (formal: આંકડો ankado)
નાનો આકડો nano akado, નાનો રૂઇ nano rui
  • Biological Diversity of Gujarat - published by Gujarat Ecology Commission ... (downloaded: Dec 16, 2020)
  • નટવરલાલ પુ. મહેતા, શોભન વસાણી, મ. દી. વસાવડા, સરોજા કોલાપ્પન — આકડો — ગુજરાતી વિશ્વકોશ
  • નાનો nano = small (plant smaller in size compared to that of Calotropis gigantea); આકડો akado, રૂઇ rui = these are generic names given to both species of Calotropis.
રાતો આકડો rato akado (or: આસમાની આકડો aasmaani akado, રક્ત આકડો rakt akado)
  • નટવરલાલ પુ. મહેતા, શોભન વસાણી, મ. દી. વસાવડા, સરોજા કોલાપ્પન — આકડો — ગુજરાતી વિશ્વકોશ
  • વનસ્પતીઓ ના ગુજરાતી તથા બોટનીકલ નામ ની યાદી :: સંકલન કર્તા વૈધ શ્રી કે,જે,ઝાલા ... (downloaded: 19 Jan 2026)
  • રાતો rato = red-coloured or reddish; આસમાની aasmaani = sky-coloured or bluish; રક્ત rakt = literally blood-coloured, to mean reddish; આકડો akado = name given to this Calotropis spp.
  • All colour descriptor prefixes clearly reference the pigmented petals of Calotropis procera, as opposed to the pale lilac or milk-white blossoms of its larger cousin.
~~~~~ HARYANVI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (हरियाणवी or हरयाणवी) ... spoken in: Haryana, Delhi
आक aak, मदार madar
  • Haryana Forest Flora - A Comprehensive Database of Ligneous Plants of Haryana (India) ... (accessed: July 26, 2026)
  • आक aak as well as मदार madar are generic names shared by both species of Calotropis. In the field, local communities differentiate them by applying specific size and colour prefixes.
अक ak, अकड़ा akra, अणकटा ankta
  • Department of Bio Sciences, Maharshi Dayanand University (2002) - Medicinal plants of some districts of Haryana an ethnobotanical survey :: Chapter 4 - Shodhganga :: a reservoir of Indian theses @ INFLIBNET ... (downloaded: Feb 9, 2022)
  • अक ak, अकड़ा akra and अणकटा ankta — all these names are generic, shared by both species of Calotropis. In the field, local communities differentiate them by applying specific size and colour prefixes.
~~~~~ HINDI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (हिन्दी) ... spoken in: Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand
आक aak, मदार madar
अकड़ा akada
सफ़ैद आक safed aak
~~~~~ KACHCHHI ~~~~~
written in: Gujarati (કચ્છી), Sindhi (ڪڇّي) ... spoken in: Kutch region of Gujarat
આક aak, આકડો akado
  • Patel, Yatin & Patel, Rohitkumar & Pankaj, Joshi & Dabgar, Yogesh. (2011). Study of the Angiospermic flora of Kachchh district, Gujarat, India. Life Sciences Leaflets. 19. 739-768. ... (downloaded: Feb 9, 2022)
  • આક aak as well as આકડો akado are generic names shared by both species of Calotropis. In the field, local communities differentiate them by applying specific size and colour prefixes.
અક ak
  • કચ્છ સ્વસ્થાન ની વનસ્પતિઓ ઠાકર જયકૃષ્ણ ઇન્દ્રજી 1926 [PLANTS OF CUTCH AND THEIR UTILITY by THAKAR, JAIKRISHNA INDRAJI, 1926]
  • અક ak is a generic name shared by both species of Calotropis. In the field, local communities differentiate them by applying specific size and colour prefixes.
~~~~~ KANNADA ~~~~~
written in: Kannada (ಕನ್ನಡ) ... spoken in: Karnataka
ಎಕ್ಕದ ಗಿಡ ekkada gida
  • Parimala, R & Hegde, G R (2011) - Flora of Dharwad district - Part 1 :: Chapter 1 :: Shodhganga :: a reservoir of Indian theses @ INFLIBNET
  • ಎಕ್ಕದ ಗಿಡ ekkada gida is a generic name shared by both species of Calotropis. In the field, local communities differentiate them by applying specific size and colour prefixes.
ಹೆಣ್ಣುಎಕ್ಕೆಯ ಗಿಡ hennu'ekkeya gida
  • Kittel, Ferdinand. Kittel's Kannada-English dictionary. Rev. and enl. ed. [Madras] University of Madras, 1968-1971.
  • ಹೆಣ್ಣು hennu = lady, female; ಎಕ್ಕೆಯ ಗಿಡ ekkeya gida = Calotropis shrub. Thus, the name literally means "female plant of Calotropis" which traditionally implies that the larger, more robust Calotropis gigantea is viewed as the male counterpart (ಗಂಡು ಎಕ್ಕೆ gandu ekke) in local folk taxonomy.
ಕರಿ ಎಕ್ಕದ ಗಿಡ kari ekkada gida
  • Katrahalli, Kotresha & Kambhar, Sidanand & Harihar, N. (2011). FLORISTIC COMPOSITION OF WOODY SPECIES IN KARNATAK COLLEGE, DHARWAD (KCD), KARNATAKA, INDIA. Life sciences Leaflets. 18. 656 –669. ... (downloaded: Nov 25, 2024)
  • ಕರಿ kari = black, dark-coloured; ಎಕ್ಕದ ಗಿಡ ekkada gida = Calotropis shrub. The descriptor 'dark-coloured' refers to the petals of Calotropis procera, which feature a deep, dark hue in stark contrast to the pale lilac or milk-white blossoms of Calotropis gigantea.
ಕೆಂಪು ಎಕ್ಕದ ಗಿಡ kempu ekkada gida
ಬಿಳಿ ಎಕ್ಕ bili ekka
~~~~~ KOL ~~~~~
written in: Warang Chiti (or Barang Kshiti, Varang Kshiti), Devanagari ... spoken in: Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal ... spoken by: Kol people
पलती palati (or पल्टी palti)
~~~~~ KONKANI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (कोंकणी) / Kannada (ಕೊಂಕಣಿ) / Malayalam (കൊങ്കണി) / Perso-Arabic (کونکنی) / Romi (Konknni) ... spoken in: Goa, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala, Gujarat
रुई rui
  • V D Vartak (1966) - Enumeration of plants from Gomantak India with a note on botanical excursions to the Castlerock area :: Chapter 5 :: Shodhganga :: a reservoir of Indian theses @ INFLIBNET
  • रुई rui is a generic name shared by both species of Calotropis. In the field, local communities differentiate them by applying specific size and colour prefixes.
~~~~~ KUMAONI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari ... spoken in: Uttarakhand
अक ak
  • Osmaston, A. E. 1927. A Forest Flora for Kumaon. Govt. Press, Allahabad.
  • अक ak is a generic name shared by both species of Calotropis. In the field, local communities differentiate them by applying specific size and colour prefixes.
~~~~~ MALAYALAM ~~~~~
written in: Malayalam (മലയാളം) ... spoken in: Kerala, Lakshadweep
ചിറ്റെരിക്ക് chitterikku
എരിക്ക് erikku
  • FRLHT's ENVIS Centre on Medicinal Plants ... (accessed: July 24, 2026)
  • എരിക്ക് erikku is a generic name shared by both species of Calotropis. In the field, local communities differentiate them by applying specific size and colour prefixes.
~~~~~ MANIPURI ~~~~~
written in: Meiteilon (ꯃꯩꯇꯩꯂꯣꯟ), Bengali-Assamese ... spoken in: Manipur ... other names for this language: Meetei
ꯑꯡꯀꯣꯠ angkot (formal: ꯑꯡꯒꯣꯠ anggot)
~~~~~ MARATHI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (मराठी) ... spoken in: Maharashtra, Karnataka
लालमांदार lalmandar, तांबडाअकडा tambara-akara
  • The Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society Vol II (1887)
  • लाल lal = red or reddish; मांदार mandar = Calotropis shrub. The colour descriptor refers to the petals of Calotropis procera, which feature reddish hue in stark contrast to the pale lilac or milk-white blossoms of Calotropis gigantea.
  • तांबडा tambara = red or reddish; अकडा akara = Calotropis shrub. The colour descriptor refers to the petals of Calotropis procera, which feature reddish hue in stark contrast to the pale lilac or milk-white blossoms of Calotropis gigantea.
मांदार mandar (colloquial: मंदार mandar), रुई rui
  • FRLHT's ENVIS Centre on Medicinal Plants ... (accessed: July 24, 2026)
  • डॉ मल्हार विनायक आपटे — वनश्रीसृष्टी खंड १ — महाराष्ट्र राज्य साहित्य आणि संस्कृती मंडळ ... (downloaded: Sep 16, 2016)
  • मांदार mandar as well as रुई rui are generic names shared by both species of Calotropis. In the field, local communities differentiate them by applying specific size and colour prefixes.
~~~~~ MISHING ~~~~~
written in: Latin, Assamese, Devanagari ... spoken in: Assam, Arunachal Pradesh ... other names for this language: Mising, Plains Miri
আকন-আচিং akon-asing
  • U N Kanjilal, P C Kanjilal, A Das, R N De - Flora of Assam - Vol III
  • আকন akon (formal: আকণ akon) = name borrowed from the Assamese for Calotropis; আচিং asing = tree or woody shrub in the Tani/Mishing language. ... compiled from the web.
~~~~~ NAGPURI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (नागपुरी), Kaithi (historically) ... spoken in: Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha ... spoken by: Nagpuria people, also Nagpuri or Sadan ... other names for this language: Sadri, Sadani
अकौंन akaon
~~~~~ NEPALI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (नेपाली) ... spoken in: Nepal, West Bengal, Assam, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir
बाह्रमासे आँक bahramaase aank
  • Many thanks to Saroj Kumar Kasaju for help with this name ... eFloraofIndia
  • बाह्रमासे bahramaase = all of twelve months, entire year; आँक aank = Calotropis shrub. Refers to flowering-fruiting all-round the year.
सेतो आँक seto aank
~~~~~ NYISHI ~~~~~
written in: Latin ... spoken in: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam ... spoken by the Daffla (or Dafla) tribe, now known as Nyishi tribe ... other names for this language: Nishi, Nisi, Nishang, Nissi, Nyising, Leil, Aya, Akang, Bangni-Bangru, Solung
akon-asing
~~~~~ ODIA ~~~~~
written in: Odia (ଓଡ଼ିଆ) ... spoken in: Odisha, Andaman & Nicobar Islands
ଅରଖ arakha
ଧଳା ଅରଖ dhala arakha
~~~~~ PAHARI (or PAHADI) ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (पहाड़ी), Perso-Arabic (پہاڑی) ... variety of languages, dialects and language groups, spoken in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand
आक aak, अक ak, मदार madar
  • Green Audit Report — Swami Vivekanand Government College, Ghumarwin, District Bilaspur (H.P.) ... (accessed: July 26, 2026)
  • आक aak, अक ak and मदार madar — all the names are generic, shared by both species of Calotropis.
सफेद आक safed aak
  • Green Audit Report — Swami Vivekanand Government College, Ghumarwin, District Bilaspur (H.P.) ... (accessed: July 26, 2026)
~~~~~ PUNJABI ~~~~~
written in: Gurmukhi (ਪੰਜਾਬੀ) ... spoken in: Punjab
ਅੱਕ akk, ਮਦਾਰ madar
  • Bamber, Charles James - Plants of the Punjab : a descriptive key to the flora of the Punjab, North-west Frontier Province, and Kashmir, the names of plants listed in this book are a mix of Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu ... (downloaded: Jan 7, 2023)
  • ਅੱਕ akk as well as ਮਦਾਰ madar are generic names shared by both species of Calotropis in Punjab. In the field, local communities differentiate them by applying specific size and colour prefixes.
ਦਰਿਆਈ ਅੱਕ daryai akk, ਨਿੱਕਾ ਅੱਕ nikka akk
  • these names prevalent in Jammu
  • Sumeet Gairola, Jyotsana Sharma, Yashbir Singh Bedi - A cross-cultural analysis of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh (India) medicinal plant use - Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Volume 155, Issue 2, 2014, Pages 925-986, ISSN 0378-8741 ... (downloaded: Jan 29, 2022)
  • Bhatia, Harpreet & Sharma, Yash & Manhas, Rajesh & Kumar, Kewal. (2014). Traditional phytoremedies for the treatment of menstrual Disorders in district Udhampur, J & K, India. - Journal of ethnopharmacology. 10.1016/j.jep.2014.11.041. ... (downloaded: July 26, 2026)
  • ਦਰਿਆਈ daryai = riverine; ਅੱਕ aak = Calotropis shrub. Thus translates literally to "the riverine calotrope". This unique name reflects authentic folk taxonomy; local communities in the Jammu foothills (like Kathua and Billawar) use the prefix daryai because this resilient shrub aggressively colonizes dry, gravelly riverbeds and flash-flood channels. ... compiled from the web.
  • ਨਿੱਕਾ nikka = small, little; ਅੱਕ akk = Calotropis shrub. The size descriptor 'small' refers to the compact growth habit of Calotropis procera, which typically grows into a much shorter, shrubby form compared to the towering structure of Calotropis gigantea.
ਦੇਸੀ ਅੱਕ desi akk
  • Rawat, Laxmi & Manhas, Rajesh & Kholiya, Deepak & Kamboj, Sushil. (2013). Floristic Diversity of Kandi Region of Hoshiarpur, Punjab, India. - Applied Ecology and Environmental Sciences. 1. 49-54. 10.12691/aees-1-4-3. ... (downloaded: July 25, 2026)
  • ਦੇਸੀ desi = native, common, or local; ਅੱਕ akk = Calotropis shrub. Named so, because this wild, native shrub Calotropis procera populates almost every roadside, pasture, and dry canal embankment across the plains of Punjab. ... compiled from the web.
~~~~~ RAJASTHANI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (राजस्थानी) ... spoken in: Rajasthan
आंक ank (or आक aak, अक ak), आंकडा ankada (or आकडा aakda)
मदार madar
  • Tripathi, Yogesh & Prabhu, V.V. & Pal, R.S. & Mishra, R.N.. (1996). Medicinal Plants of Rajasthan in Indian System of Medicine. Ancient Science of Life. 15. 190-212.
  • मदार madar — a generic baseline name shared by both species of Calotropis across the eastern and southern belts of Rajasthan. It functions as a prominent regional loan word from neighboring Hindi dialects. ... compiled from the web.
~~~~~ RANGPURI ~~~~~
written in: Bengali-Assamese (রংপুরী, কোচ-ৰাজবংশী, দেশী), Devanagari (रंगपुरी) ... spoken in: Bangladesh, north Bengal, lower Assam ... other names for this language: Anchalit, Bahe, Deshi, Koch-Rajbongshi
আকন ankon
~~~~~ SANSKRIT ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (संस्कृतम्) ... used all over India by priests and scholars
आदित्यपुष्पिका adityapushpika, अलर्क alarka, अर्क arka, आस्फोत asphota, गणरूप ganurupa, काष्ठील kashtila, मन्दार mandara, प्रताप pratapa, राजार्क rajarka, रवि ravi, सदापुष्प sadapushpa, शर्करापुष्प sharkarapushpa, शुकफल shukaphala, तूलफल tulaphala, विकीरण vikirana, वृत्तमल्लिका vrttamallika
श्वेतार्क shvetarka
~~~~~ SANTALI ~~~~~
written in: Ol Chiki (ᱥᱟᱱᱛᱟᱲᱤ), Bengali (সাঁওতালী), Odia (ସାନ୍ତାଳୀ), Devanagari (सान्ताली), Roman ... spoken in: Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha
ᱟᱠᱟᱣᱱᱟ akaona (colloquial: ᱟᱠᱟᱱᱟ akana)
~~~~~ SINDHI ~~~~~
written in: Perso-Arabic (سِنڌِي), Gujarati (સિંધી), Devanagari (सिन्धी) ... spoken in: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan
اڪٽٽڙو akatatido, اڪ aku
آڪ akk
~~~~~ TAGIN ~~~~~
written in: Roman ... spoken in: Arunachal Pradesh ... other names for this language: West Dafla, Bangni ... spoken by: Tagin people or Ghasi Miri people
akon-asing
~~~~~ TAMIL ~~~~~
written in: Tamil (தமிழ்) ... spoken in: Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Andaman & Nicobar Islands
எருக்கு erukku
  • எருக்கு erukku functions strictly as a broad, generic baseline name shared by the entire genus in Tamil literature. No unique, independent folk names exist for Calotropis procera in conversational Tamil.
  • A major point of confusion across digital botanical databases is the reckless labeling of வெள்ளெருக்கு vellerukku under C. procera. A critical 2019 audit by the Botanical Survey of India settled this trap, clarifying that Vellerukku belongs exclusively to the "white-flowered Calotropis gigantea". Because Calotropis procera is an arid-desert specialist, it cannot survive the humid monsoonal climate of the South and hasn't been collected in Tamil Nadu since 1959. Consequently, local folk vocabulary never developed specific modifiers for it, and any modern web index listing specific Tamil terms for this species is a clear example of error propagation. ... compiled from the web.
  • S., Arumugam & Krishnachandran, Sampath Kumar & Kathiresan, K. & Murugan, C.. (2019). ON THE OCCURRENCE OF CALOTROPIS PROCERA IN TAMIL NADU AND THE APPLICATION OF LOCAL NAME VELLERUKKU. ... (accessed: July 26, 2026)
வெள்ளெருக்கு vellerukku
~~~~~ TELUGU ~~~~~
written in: Telugu ( తెలుగు) ... spoken in: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Puducherry
ఎర్ర జిల్లేడు erra jilledu, జిల్లేడు jilledu, మందారము mandaramu, నల్ల జిల్లేడు nalla jilledu
  • Flora Andhrika - Plant Wealth of Andhra Pradesh, India ... (accessed: July 25, 2026)
  • జిల్లేడు jilledu as well as మందారము mandaramu are generic names shared by both species of Calotropis. In the field, local communities differentiate them by applying specific size and colour prefixes.
  • ఎర్ర erra = red or reddish; నల్ల nalla = dark-coloured; జిల్లేడు jilledu = Calotropis shrub. The colour descriptors — "ఎర్ర erra" and "నల్ల nalla" refer to the petals of Calotropis procera, which feature deep, dark hue in stark contrast to the pale lilac or milk-white blossoms of Calotropis gigantea.
~~~~~ KNOWN DISTRIBUTION in INDIA ~~~~~
throughout the mainland
naturalised in the Lakshadweep islands, absent / highly restricted presence in the Andaman and Nicobar islands
  • compiled from the web
WEB-TANGLED NAMES
A significant challenge when researching and gathering regional names for Calotropis procera online is the widespread mislabeling across digital databases. Many registries attach prefixes that describe a plant with "white-coloured flowers" — such as the Hindi Safed; Kannada Bili; Nepali Seto; Odia Dhala; Pahari Safed; Sanskrit Shweta; and Tamil Vel — which are traits properly reserved for its larger cousin, Calotropis gigantea. In truth, only prefixes denoting dark hues like reddish, pink, or purple correctly identify Calotropis procera.
Online indices have indifferently assigned Tamil names like Vellerukku to Calotropis procera. However, a definitive audit by the Botanical Survey of India confirmed that C. procera has not been collected in Tamil Nadu since 1959 and is now considered locally extinct. Because it cannot survive the humid monsoonal South, no native Tamil folk vocabulary ever developed unique modifiers for it. ... compiled from the web.
While traditional folk taxonomy cleanly differentiates the two species based on pale versus dark floral colours, it is worth noting that the rare white-flowered colour morphs of Calotropis procera too, can occasionally occur in nature due to local genetic variations.
~~~~~ Created on: 11:43 23-07-2026 ¦ Last updated: 12:51 28-07-2026 (DD-MM-YYYY) ~~~~~
Apocynaceae Asclepiadoideae Asclepiadaceae shrub "Calotropis procera" "Asclepias procera" "Madorius procerus" "rubber bush" "Sodom apple"
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