Banner description

146 Species in Genus Capparis

Capparis | Monsteraholic
October 5 – Capparis
"Capparis, the caper bush, defines October 5."
Capparis symbolizes resilience and creativity. You find innovative solutions and thrive under pressure. Like its versatile uses, your potential is boundless.

A World of Capers: My Exploration of the Capparis Genus

As a botanist, my fascination with the plant world knows no bounds. But there’s a particular genus that has always held a special place in my heart: Capparis. This diverse group of flowering plants, belong to the Capparaceae family, commonly known as caper shrubs or caperbushes, boasts over 140 species scattered across the subtropical and tropical regions of Africa, Eurasia, Australasia, and the Pacific.

My journey into the world of Capparis began with a simple encounter – a jar of capers in my local market. These tiny, pickled flower buds, bursting with flavor, sparked a curiosity that led me down a botanical rabbit hole. I soon discovered that these culinary delights came from a fascinating genus with a rich history and a wide array of uses.

Diverse Forms and Habitats

Capparis species are incredibly diverse, ranging from sprawling shrubs to woody climbers. They thrive in a variety of habitats, from arid deserts and rocky outcrops to lush rainforests and coastal dunes. This adaptability is a testament to their resilience and evolutionary success.

One of the most striking features of Capparis is their showy flowers. These blooms come in a variety of colors, from pristine white and delicate pink to vibrant yellow and deep purple. The flowers are typically large and fragrant, attracting a diverse array of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and even bats.

But the true magic of Capparis lies in their fruit. These berries, often referred to as caper berries, are equally diverse in size, shape, and color. Some are small and round, while others are elongated and resemble cucumbers. They can be green, yellow, red, or even purple when ripe. These fruits are not only a visual treat but also an important food source for various animals, including birds and mammals.

A Genus of Many Uses

Capparis has a long history of human use, dating back thousands of years. The most well-known use is, of course, the culinary application of capers. These pickled flower buds are a staple in Mediterranean cuisine, adding a unique piquant flavor to dishes like pasta puttanesca, chicken piccata, and bagels with lox.

But the uses of Capparis extend far beyond the kitchen. In traditional medicine, various parts of the plant have been used to treat a wide range of ailments, from headaches and toothaches to skin infections and even cancer. Some species are also used in agroforestry and as ornamental plants.

Exploring the Species

The sheer diversity of Capparis species is truly remarkable. Here are:

  1. Capparis acutifolia Sweet
  2. Capparis annamensis (Baker f.) M.Jacobs
  3. Capparis anomala (F.Muell.) Christenh. & Byng
  4. Capparis arborea (F.Muell.) Maiden
  5. Capparis artensis Montrouz.
  6. Capparis assamica Hook.f. & Thomson
  7. Capparis averyanovii Fici, Lanors. & Souvann.
  8. Capparis bachii Sy, R.K.Choudhary & Joongku Lee
  9. Capparis batianoffii Guymer
  10. Capparis beneolens Gagnep.
  11. Capparis bodinieri H.Lév.
  12. Capparis brachybotrya Hallier f.
  13. Capparis brassii DC.
  14. Capparis brevispina DC.
  15. Capparis burmanica Collett & Hemsl.
  16. Capparis buwaldae M.Jacobs
  17. Capparis callophylla Blume
  18. Capparis canescens Banks ex DC.
  19. Capparis cantoniensis Lour.
  20. Capparis cartilaginea Decne.
  21. Capparis cataphyllosa M.Jacobs
  22. Capparis chingiana B.S.Sun
  23. Capparis chrysomeia Bojer
  24. Capparis cinerea M.Jacobs
  25. Capparis cleghornii Dunn
  26. Capparis corymbosa Lam.
  27. Capparis cucurbitina King
  28. Capparis daknongensis Sy, G.C.Tucker, Cornejo & Joongku Lee
  29. Capparis danielii Murugan, R.Manik., S.P.Nithya, B.Karthik & Arisdason
  30. Capparis dasyphylla Merr. & F.P.Metcalf
  31. Capparis decidua (Forssk.) Edgew.
  32. Capparis diffusa Ridl.
  33. Capparis dioica Gilg
  34. Capparis divaricata Lam.
  35. Capparis diversifolia Wight & Arn.
  36. Capparis dongvanensis Sy, B.H.Quang & D.V.Hai
  37. Capparis echinocarpa Pierre ex Gagnep.
  38. Capparis erycibe Hallier f.
  39. Capparis erythrocarpos Isert
  40. Capparis fascicularis DC.
  41. Capparis fengii B.S.Sun
  42. Capparis flavicans Kurz
  43. Capparis floribunda Wight
  44. Capparis florida Fici & Souvann.
  45. Capparis fohaiensis B.S.Sun
  46. Capparis formosana Hemsl.
  47. Capparis fusifera Dunn
  48. Capparis gialaiensis Sy
  49. Capparis grandidieri Baill.
  50. Capparis grandiflora Wall. ex Hook.f. & Thomson
  51. Capparis grandis L.f.
  52. Capparis henryi Matsum.
  53. Capparis hereroensis Schinz
  54. Capparis heteracantha DC.
  55. Capparis himalayensis Jafri
  56. Capparis hinnamnoensis Souvann. & Fici
  57. Capparis humistrata (F.Muell.) F.Muell.
  58. Capparis hypovellerea Gilg & Gilg-Ben.
  59. Capparis incanescens DC.
  60. Capparis irenae Fici
  61. Capparis jacobsii Hewson
  62. Capparis kbangensis Sy & D.V.Hai
  63. Capparis kebarensis Fici
  64. Capparis kenaboiensis Julius
  65. Capparis khuamak Gagnep.
  66. Capparis klossii Ridl.
  67. Capparis koioides M.Jacobs
  68. Capparis kollimalayana M.B.Viswan.
  69. Capparis lanceolaris DC.
  70. Capparis lanceolatifolia Fici, Bouaman. & Souvann.
  71. Capparis laotica Gagnep.
  72. Capparis lasiantha R.Br. ex DC.
  73. Capparis lianosa Fici & Souvann.
  74. Capparis lobbiana Turcz.
  75. Capparis longestipitata Heine
  76. Capparis longgangensis S.L.Mo & X.S.Lee ex Y.S.Huang
  77. Capparis loranthifolia Lindl.
  78. Capparis macleishii (A.G.Mill.) Christenh. & Byng
  79. Capparis macrantha Souvann., Fici & Lanors.
  80. Capparis masaikai H.Lév.
  81. Capparis mekongensis Gagnep.
  82. Capparis membranifolia Kurz
  83. Capparis micracantha DC.
  84. Capparis micrantha A.Rich.
  85. Capparis mitchellii (F.Muell.) Lindl.
  86. Capparis monantha M.Jacobs
  87. Capparis moonii Wight
  88. Capparis multiflora Hook.f. & Thomson
  89. Capparis nilgiriensis Subba Rao, Kumari & V.Chandras.
  90. Capparis nobilis (Endl.) F.Muell. ex Benth.
  91. Capparis nummularia DC.
  92. Capparis olacifolia Hook.f. & Thomson
  93. Capparis ornans F.Muell. ex Benth.
  94. Capparis oxycarpa Fici, Aver. & Sy
  95. Capparis pachyphylla M.Jacobs
  96. Capparis parvifolia Fici
  97. Capparis phatadke Fici, Lanors., Lamxay & Souvann.
  98. Capparis poggei Pax
  99. Capparis pranensis (Pierre ex Gagnep.) M.Jacobs
  100. Capparis pseudocerasifera Hauman
  101. Capparis pubiflora DC.
  102. Capparis pubifolia B.S.Sun
  103. Capparis pyrifolia Lam.
  104. Capparis quiniflora DC.
  105. Capparis radula Gagnep.
  106. Capparis ramonensis Danin
  107. Capparis rheedei DC.
  108. Capparis richardii Baill.
  109. Capparis rigida M.Jacobs
  110. Capparis rotundifolia Rottler
  111. Capparis roxburghii DC.
  112. Capparis rufidula M.Jacobs
  113. Capparis sabiifolia Hook.f. & Thomson
  114. Capparis sandwichiana DC.
  115. Capparis sarmentosa A.Cunn. ex Benth.
  116. Capparis scortechinii King
  117. Capparis sepiaria L.
  118. Capparis shanesiana F.Muell.
  119. Capparis shevaroyensis Sundararagh.
  120. Capparis siamensis Kurz
  121. Capparis sikkimensis Kurz
  122. Capparis spinosa L. – Plant FAQs: Capparis Spinosa – Caper Plant
  123. Capparis srilankensis Sundararagh.
  124. Capparis subacuta Miq.
  125. Capparis subsessilis B.S.Sun
  126. Capparis sunbisiniana M.L.Zhang & G.C.Tucker
  127. Capparis tagbanuorum Fici
  128. Capparis tchaourembensis Fici
  129. Capparis tenera Dalzell
  130. Capparis thorelii Gagnep.
  131. Capparis thozetiana (F.Muell.) F.Muell.
  132. Capparis tomentosa Lam.
  133. Capparis tonkinensis Gagnep.
  134. Capparis trichocarpa B.S.Sun
  135. Capparis trinervia Hook.f. & Thomson
  136. Capparis trisonthiae Srisanga & Chayam.
  137. Capparis umbonata Lindl.
  138. Capparis urophylla F.Chun
  139. Capparis velutina P.I.Forst.
  140. Capparis versicolor Griff.
  141. Capparis viburnifolia Gagnep.
  142. Capparis viminea Oliv.
  143. Capparis wui B.S.Sun
  144. Capparis yunnanensis Craib & W.W.Sm.
  145. Capparis zeylanica L.
  146. Capparis zippeliana Miq.

The Future of Capparis

As we face growing challenges like climate change and food security, the importance of understanding and utilizing plant diversity cannot be overstated. Capparis, with its adaptability, resilience, and diverse uses, holds great potential for the future.

Whether it’s developing new food sources, exploring medicinal properties, or utilizing species for ecological restoration, the possibilities are endless. As a botanist, I am excited to continue my exploration of this fascinating genus and contribute to unlocking its full potential for the benefit of humanity and the planet.

Related Posts

Scroll to Top