Zigzag caper-bush
Capparis fascicularis

Family: Capparaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows to 7 m high. It can be scrambling. The stem has small hooks. The leaves are narrow and oval. They are 4 cm long by 1.5 cm wide. The flowers are in compact clusters at the ends of branches and in the axils of leaves. The fruit are round and 1.2 cm across. They are purple-black when ripe.

There are about 250 Capparis species. There are about 50 Capparis species in tropical America.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in savannah woodland. It grows between 600-1,200 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Chad, Congo, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Kenya, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sahel, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Uganda, West Africa, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Immature fruit are used as pickles and chutney. The fruit are also eaten as a snack.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Goulom ana akoul, Liphambo, Mabusane, Qawisa, Umukurura

Synonyms

Capparis rothii Oliv.; Capparis transvaalensis; Capparis rudatisii Gilg & Gilg-Ben.;