Capparis fascicularis
| Capparis fascicularis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Capparis fascicularis var. fascicularis | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Brassicales |
| Family: | Capparaceae |
| Genus: | Capparis |
| Species: | C. fascicularis |
| Binomial name | |
| Capparis fascicularis DC. | |
| Synonyms | |
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Capparis fascicularis, the Zigzag Caper-bush,[2] is a plant in the Capparaceae family and is native to Africa.
Taxonomy
This species has multiple synonyms. The species is said to comprise three varieties, but four are listed:[1]
- Capparis fascicularis DC. var. fascicularis (1824)
- Capparis fascicularis var. zeyheri (Turcz.) Toelken (1824)
- Capparis fascicularis var. elaeagnoides (Gilg) DeWolf (1824)
- Capparis fascicularis var. scheffleri (Gilg & Gilg-Ben.) DeWolf (1824)
Distribution and habitat
Occurs from the Eastern Cape of South Africa, through KwaZulu-Natal, Swaziland, Mpumalanga,[3] Limpopo, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.[4] The range extends further to East Africa, Ethiopia, and across northern Nigeria, Niger and the Gambia.[5] This species generally occurs in deciduous bushland and thickets, grassland with scattered trees, upland dry evergreen and riverine forest, and sometimes on termite-mounds.[1] Var. fascicularis is found in dry bushveld[2] or dry deciduous woodland in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Swaziland.[6] Var. zeyheri is found in forest, bushveld and woodland near the coast in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, South Africa.[2] Var. elaeagnoides is found in Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Niger, Nigeria, Mali and the Gambia.[7]
Description
A scrambling shrub or climber, usually with hooked spines on the stem.[3] Two varieties are known in South Africa; var. fascicularis (Zigzag Caper-bush) and var. zeyheri (Coast Zigzag Caper-bush).[2] The most notable difference between these two varieties is that var. fascicularis has indented (notched[2]) leaf-tips whereas var. zeyheri has pointed leaf-tips. The spines on the Coast Zigzag Caper-bush are usually reduced or absent.[2][3] The fragrant flowers are whitish[2] and produced on leafless side branchlets which resemble spikes or racemes.[8] The fruit are spherical and 6–15 mm in diameter, ripening to purple-black.[8]
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Human uses
The leaves are sold as food in markets of northern Nigeria.[5]
Ecological significance
Capparis fascicularis is the larval foodplant of the butterflies Belenois creona and Eronia cleodora.[9]
References
- 1 2 3 Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques Ville de Geneve: SANBI African Plant Database: http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/details.php?langue=an&id=174381, retrieved 25 February 2011.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Boon, R. (2010). Pooley's Trees of Eastern South Africa; A Complete Guide. ISBN 978-0-620-46019-4.
- 1 2 3 Pooley, E. (1993). The Complete Field Guide to Trees of Natal, Zululand and Transkei. ISBN 0-620-17697-0.
- ↑ Flora of Zimbabwe: Capparis fascicularis DC. var. fascicularis: http://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=124440, retrieved 24 February 2011.
- 1 2 Burkill, H.M. (1985). The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol 1.
- ↑ Hyde, M.A. & Wursten, B. (2011). Flora of Zimbabwe: Species information: Capparis fascicularis var. fascicularis. http://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=124440, retrieved 25 February 2011
- ↑ Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques Ville de Geneve: SANBI African Plant Database: http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/details.php?langue=an&id=12911, retrieved 25 February 2011.
- 1 2 Hyde, M.A. & Wursten, B. (2011). Flora of Mozambique: Species information: Capparis fascicularis var. fascicularis. http://www.mozambiqueflora.com/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=124440, retrieved 2 March 2011
- ↑ Williams, M. (1994). Butterflies of Southern Africa; A Field Guide. ISBN 1-86812-516-5.