Capparis decidua

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Capparis decidua (Hindi: करीर or कैर), also called karir or kair, is a small much branched tree or shrub of Thar desert with a mass of slender, leafless branches, the small caducous leaves being found only on young shoots. It rarely exceeds a height of 15 feet. New flush of leaves appears in November-January. Red conspicuous flowers appear in March to April and August-September and ripe by May and October. The pink fleshy berries are readily eaten by birds. It coppices well and produces root suckers freely. It is extremely drought- resistant and frost hardy.

[edit] Utilization

The fruits are used for preparing vegetables, curry and fine pickles. It has got medicinal values.

[edit] References

• R N Kaul (1963): Need for afforestation in the arid zones of India, LA-YAARAN, Vol 13
• R C Ghosh (1977): Hand book on afforestation techniques, Dehradun.
• R K Gupta & Ishwar Prakasah (1975): Environmental analysis of the Thar Desert, Dehradun.