Woolly caper-bush
Capparis tomentosa

Family: Capparaceae

What it is like

It is a spiny scrambling shrub or dense climber. The trunk can be 13-15 cm across and is covered with spines. The branches are covered with thick yellow hairs. The leaves are soft and grey-green. They are oval and 2.5-7 cm long and 1.5-4 cm wide. They have a rounded tip with short sharp point. The spines grow in the axils of the leaves. They are short, hooked and point downwards. The flower buds are round and velvety. They grow in clusters at the ends of branches. The flowers are large, pale green and have a smell. The fruit are long and hang downwards. They have a stout neck and stalk. They are reddish orange when ripe.

The plant is claimed to have a range of medicinal uses. There are about 250 Capparis species. There are about 50 Capparis species in tropical America.

Where it is found

It is a tropical or warm climate plant. In East Africa it grows between 1,200-2,300 m altitude. It grows in the Sahel. It can grow in arid places. It occurs on termite mounds.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sahel, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, South Africa, Southern Africa, South Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fruit are occasionally eaten by children. The flower buds are eaten in salted vinegar. The leaves are cooked and eaten. Caution: The roots are very poisonous.

The fruit are popular with children.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves, seeds, caution, vegetable, gum

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Cana, Carango, Chikatavuwa, Gonashindi, Gumero, Harenigema, Kdow, Kduwu, Khawa, Kowangee, Kudow, Motawana, Mucudureia, Mufurura, Tipoyuo, uMabusane, Umkanyengwe, Umukorokoombe, Ungiero

Synonyms

Capparis alexandrae Chiov.; Capparis biloba Hutch. & Dalziel; Capparis corymbifera E. Mey. ex Harv. & Sond.; Capparis floribunda Wight; Capparis lobifera Delile; Capparis hypericoides Hochst.; Capparis persicifolia A. Rich.; Capparis puberula Dc.; Capparis subtomentosa De Wild.; Capparis tomentosa var. persicifolia (A. Rich.) Penz.; Capparis volkensii Gilg;