Capparis sepiaria
L.
Capparaceae
Capparis boscioides Pax
Capparis capensis Thunb.
Capparis cerasifera Gilg
Capparis chionantha Gilg & Gilg-Ben.
Capparis citrifolia Lam.
Capparis corymbosa Lam.
Capparis djurica Gilg & Gilg-Ben.
Capparis fischeri Pax
Capparis flexicaulis Hance
Capparis glauca Wall. ex Hook. f. & Thomson
Capparis hypovellerea Gilg & Gilg-Ben.
Capparis laurifolia Gilg & Gilg-Ben.
Capparis mildbraedii Gilg
Capparis rivae Gilg
Capparis roseiflora Gilg & Gilg-Ben.
Capparis sansibarensis (Pax) Gilg
Capparis stuhlmannii Gilg
Capparis subglabra (Oliv.) Gilg & Gilg-Ben.
Capparis victoriae-nyanzae Brenan
Capparis woodii Gilg & Gilg-Ben.
Common Name:
Close-up of the flowers
Photograph by: Lalithamba
Creative Commons Attribution 2.0
Close-up of the flowers
Photograph by: Lalithamba
Creative Commons Attribution 2.0
General Information
Capparis sepiaria is a scrambling, prickly, evergreen shrub or climbing plant growing around 3 metres tall[
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].
The plant is a local source of food, medicines and fuel. It is sometimes cultivated for its edible leaves and sold in local markets in tropical Africa[
,
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].
Known Hazards
The plant is considered to be toxic to grazing animals[
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].
The root is said to be poisonous, and a root-flour is prepared for use as a hunting poison[
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].
Botanical References
451- Title
- Flora Malesiana Series 1
- Publication
-
- Author
- Various
- Website
- http://www.archive.org
- Publisher
- Nationaal Herbarium Nederiand, Universiteit Leiden branch
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A massive treatment of the plants of the Malaysian Archipelago. Much of it has been made available to download from the Internet
Range
Drier regions of Africa from Senegal to Somalia, south to S. Africa; through tropical Asia from India to Philippines; New Guinea, Australia.
Habitat
Savannah[
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
]. Drier places in thickets, hedges, teak-forests, etc., in the lowlands, often near the seaside, solitary or in groups, obviously bound to seasonal climatic conditions[
451- Title
- Flora Malesiana Series 1
- Publication
-
- Author
- Various
- Website
- http://www.archive.org
- Publisher
- Nationaal Herbarium Nederiand, Universiteit Leiden branch
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A massive treatment of the plants of the Malaysian Archipelago. Much of it has been made available to download from the Internet
].
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Shrub |
| Height | 3.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Cultivated, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Requires a sunny position[
774- Title
- Trees and Shrubs of the Sahel. Their Characteristics and Uses.
- Publication
-
- Author
- von Maydell H.
- Publisher
- Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit; Germany
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 3-8236-1198-4
- Description
- A well-researched book, usually with more than one photograph of each species and good information on the plant and its uses.
]. Found in the wild often growing on termite mounds, it forms impenetrable thickets when growing in clay soils of depressions and in seasonally flooded areas with (iron) hardpans[
774- Title
- Trees and Shrubs of the Sahel. Their Characteristics and Uses.
- Publication
-
- Author
- von Maydell H.
- Publisher
- Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit; Germany
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 3-8236-1198-4
- Description
- A well-researched book, usually with more than one photograph of each species and good information on the plant and its uses.
].
Edible Uses
Leaves - cooked[
,
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
]. Added to soups[
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
]. Only used in times of shortage[
774- Title
- Trees and Shrubs of the Sahel. Their Characteristics and Uses.
- Publication
-
- Author
- von Maydell H.
- Publisher
- Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit; Germany
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 3-8236-1198-4
- Description
- A well-researched book, usually with more than one photograph of each species and good information on the plant and its uses.
]. There are also reports of toxicity - see 'Known Hazards' above.
Fruit - raw[
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
]. The flesh has the flavour of ether and is considered to be aphrodisiac[
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
]. The skin is very bitter[
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
]. The spherical yellowish-orange fruit is eaten by hunters when out on the chase[
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
]. The fruit is up to 15mm in diameter[
451- Title
- Flora Malesiana Series 1
- Publication
-
- Author
- Various
- Website
- http://www.archive.org
- Publisher
- Nationaal Herbarium Nederiand, Universiteit Leiden branch
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A massive treatment of the plants of the Malaysian Archipelago. Much of it has been made available to download from the Internet
].
Flower buds - pickled and used as a substitute for capers (C. Spinosa)[
301- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
].
Medicinal
The fruit is considered to be aphrodisiac[
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].
The bark and the roots are used as a wound dressing[
774- Title
- Trees and Shrubs of the Sahel. Their Characteristics and Uses.
- Publication
-
- Author
- von Maydell H.
- Publisher
- Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit; Germany
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 3-8236-1198-4
- Description
- A well-researched book, usually with more than one photograph of each species and good information on the plant and its uses.
].
The plant is said to be alterative, febrifuge and tonic[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
Other Uses
The dried branches make a good fuel[
774- Title
- Trees and Shrubs of the Sahel. Their Characteristics and Uses.
- Publication
-
- Author
- von Maydell H.
- Publisher
- Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit; Germany
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 3-8236-1198-4
- Description
- A well-researched book, usually with more than one photograph of each species and good information on the plant and its uses.
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
