Common Name:

General Information

Capparis moonii is a thorny, evergreen, climbing shrub growing into the surrounding vegetation up to a height of 10 metres or more. When growing in open areas the plant normally adopts a lower, more bushy habit. The woody stem is usually around 15 - 20cm wide at the base, occasionally to 25cm, and is nuch branched[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine. Extracts of the plant are used in commercial cosmetic preparations.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - western India (Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala), Sri Lanka

Habitat

Rather abundant on laterite soils along rocky slopes, mostly in the moist deciduous forests of the lower parts of the Western Ghats and also in the semi-evergreen forests along the upper slopes. Also found along rocky coastal areas[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Climber
Height	10.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

The leaves and bark are used in curries[].

The viscous, pulpy flesh of the fruit is white or creamy at first, turning deep scarlet upon exposure[]. The reddish-brown, globose or subglobose fruit is about 130mm long and 100mm wide[]. Whilst the fruits of many species in thei genus are eaten, there are no records of the fruit of this species being edible[].

Medicinal

The fruit is said to be an effective treatment in cases of tuberculosis and skin ailments, but research has failed to confirm this[].

Other Uses

An extract of the fruit is used in commercial cosmetic preparations as an antimicrobial and antioxidant[].

Propagation

Seed -

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