Capparis spinosa (L.)

Capparidaceae or Capparaceae 

Synonyms: Capparis sicula Duham.

Common names: Common caper-bush (English); câprier, câprier épineux (French); echter Kappernstrauch, Kapper (German); cappero, cappero spinoso, cappero dei muri (Italian); kubbar (Arabic), other vernacular names: ul-āsaf; kabāret el-welī; shawk el-hmar; kābar; kābbūr; kābbār.
 

Description

Spiny, scrambling shrub. Leaves alternate or subopposite, 1-4 cm, ovate. Flowers white or pale-pink. Fruit: a berry, 3x2 cm, ellipsoid, green.

Flowering

October to November.

Habitat

Steppic plains on gravel soils, mountains.

Distribution

Mediterranean; as far as central Asia.

Use

In the badia: Al-Khatīb: anti-diabetic, root useful for kidney complaints, the crushed fruit is used for the stomach.

Capparis spinosa L. East of Palmyra, 1998.
Field data: anti-diabetic, stomach, cough.

In literature: carminative (buds), fevers (boiled plant with root); earache (powdered leaves with oil, as eardrops), coughs, anthelmintic (leaves and root bark), diabetes (leaves with Peganum harmala); anti-rheumatic (root’s decoction). Its use as forage has not been scientifically investigated.

Palatability and importance as forage

Grazed by livestock only in case of drought

Chemical Data

Glucosinolates (glucocapparin, glucocleomin, glucoiberin, glucopangulin and singrin), flavonoids and choline, coumarins, saponins, tannins.

References

Bedevian, A. K. 1936. Illustrated Polyglottic Dictionary of Plant names. Cairo, Argus D Papazian Presses.

Ozenda, P. 1991. Flore et végétation du Sahara. Paris, Ed. du CNRS.

 


Edited by: F. Guiso Gallisai
Information taken from: Sincich, F. 2002. Bedouin Traditional Medicine in the Syrian Steppe. Rome, FAO. 114-115.

All pictures and drawings belong to the author.
 


The presentation of material in this profile do not imply the expression of any opinion on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and has been taken from interviews with the traditional Bedouin doctor, Al-Khatīb and from data collected directly from Bedouins informants