Red-fruited caper-bush
Capparis rosea

Family: Capparaceae

What it is like

A scrambling herb or shrub. It grows 2 m tall. It has sharp thorns in pairs. The branches are slightly zigzag shaped. The leaves are narrowly oval and 5 cm long by 3 cm wide. They have grey velvet hairs when young. The flowers occur singly in the axils of the leaves. They are greenish-white. The fruit is narrowly oval and 4 cm long by 2.5 cm wide. It has 6-8 ridges. When it is ripe it turns deep pink.

It is an Unresolved name in The Plant List.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. In Mozambique it grows between sea level and 400 m above sea level. It grows in dry deciduous woodland.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, East Africa, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

In East Africa, plants flower in September to October.

Its other names

Local names

Muklala, Sakuera

Synonyms

Capparis erythrocarpus var. rosa (Klotzsch) De Wolf; Petersia rosea Klotzsch;