Capparis spinosa subsp. nummularia

"Wild passionfruit" redirects here. For the true wild passionfruits, see Passiflora.
Wild passionfruit
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Brassicales
Family: Capparaceae
Genus: Capparis
Species: C. spinosa
Subspecies: C. s. subsp. nummularia
Trinomial name
Capparis spinosa subsp. nummularia

Wild passionfruit, or (locally) "caperbush" is an Australian native plant. It is a subspecies of the caper adapted to deserts.

Its name in the Arrernte language of Central Australia is Merne arrutnenge.

Wild passionfruit is a tasty bush tucker food. When it ripens, the skin goes orange, splits open and the little black seeds become visible. It is then ready to eat. The seeds are hot and spicy when crushed. It grows prolifically in riverbanks in the desert.

References