Capparaceae FAMILY

Capparis spinosa cordifolia

Edibility

3/5

Medicinal

3/5

Safety & Hazards

Caper extracts and pulps have been used in cosmetics, but there have been cases reported of contact dermatitis and sensitivity from their use[ 646 Title New Crops FactSheets Publication Author Website http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/default.html Publisher Purdue University Year 0 ISBN Description A website dedicated to giving information on potential new agricultural crops. ].

Botanical Description

Capparis spinosa cordifolia is a thorny, erect or prostrate, evergreen shrub with branches usually 1 - 2 metres long, sometimes to 4 metres[ 1268 Title A taxonomic revision of the Capparis spinosa group (Capparaceae) from eastern Africa to Oceania Publication Phytotaxa 203 (1): 024-036. 2015 Author Silvio Fici Website http://www.mapress.com/phytotaxa/ Publisher Year 2015 ISBN 1179-3155 Description ], the plant sometimes reaching 3 metres tall[ 436 Title Native Plants Hawaii Publication Author Website http://nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A website containing information on a range of native Hawaiian plants, with descriptions, habitat, traditional uses etc. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and a food[ 1268 Title A taxonomic revision of the Capparis spinosa group (Capparaceae) from eastern Africa to Oceania Publication Phytotaxa 203 (1): 024-036. 2015 Author Silvio Fici Website http://www.mapress.com/phytotaxa/ Publisher Year 2015 ISBN 1179-3155 Description ]. It was at one time commonly harvested from the wild in the Pacific Islands, and exported as capers for use as a food flavouring[ 436 Title Native Plants Hawaii Publication Author Website http://nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A website containing information on a range of native Hawaiian plants, with descriptions, habitat, traditional uses etc. ]. It has also been cultivated for this purpose in the Philippines[ 1268 Title A taxonomic revision of the Capparis spinosa group (Capparaceae) from eastern Africa to Oceania Publication Phytotaxa 203 (1): 024-036. 2015 Author Silvio Fici Website http://www.mapress.com/phytotaxa/ Publisher Year 2015 ISBN 1179-3155 Description ]. A very ornamental plant, mainly due to its beautiful and wonderfully fragrant flowers; it can be used as a ground cover or hedge for dry coastal coralline or lava gardens[ 436 Title Native Plants Hawaii Publication Author Website http://nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A website containing information on a range of native Hawaiian plants, with descriptions, habitat, traditional uses etc. ]. Only the uses specifically ascribed to this subspecies are recorded here. Go to Capparis spinosa for the full list of uses for the species.

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeSoutheast Asia - Indonesia and the Phillipines, east through New Guinea to the Pacific Islands

HabitatRocky shores, cliffs; on coral, limestone and volcanic rocks; at elevations up to 350 metres[ 1268 Title A taxonomic revision of the Capparis spinosa group (Capparaceae) from eastern Africa to Oceania Publication Phytotaxa 203 (1): 024-036. 2015 Author Silvio Fici Website http://www.mapress.com/phytotaxa/ Publisher Year 2015 ISBN 1179-3155 Description ]. Generally a plant of coastal areas but occasionally found inland in dry areas[ 436 Title Native Plants Hawaii Publication Author Website http://nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A website containing information on a range of native Hawaiian plants, with descriptions, habitat, traditional uses etc. ].