Capparis zeylanica
L.
Ceylon caper, Indian caper
(c) Shiwalee Samant, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Shiwalee Samant
(c) V.Arun, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
What to Eat
Edible parts: Fruit, Flowers, Seeds
The ripe fruit are pickled after being soaked overnight and boiled; they are bitter and must be processed before eating. Young fruit are cooked and eaten as a vegetable. The flowers are eaten as a vegetable despite being somewhat bitter. The seeds from ripe fruit are eaten roasted.
Where to Find It
A tropical plant. It grows near the foothills of the Himalayas up to 800 m altitude. It grows in dry deciduous forest. In the Philippines reported only from Luzon and Mindanao.
Asia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Philippines, SE Asia, Sri Lanka*, Thailand, Vietnam,
How to Identify
A climber or shrub. It grows 2-5 m tall. The small branches zigzag. There are thorns that curve backwards. These are 3-6 mm long. A vine with alternate leaves. The leaves are hairy, with pointed tips and rounded base. The flowers are fairly large and pink turning to purple. The fruit are berries that are red then black. They can be 5 cm long by 4 cm wide. They have a woody skin. There are many seeds. These are in a fleshy pulp.
How to Grow
Plants can be raised from seed.
Medicinal Uses
The leaves are employed as a counter-irritant, and are made into a poultice for treating boils, swellings and haemorrhoids. They are also used to reduce perspiration and to improve the appetite. A decoction of the root-bark is used as a remedy for vomiting and to improve the appetite.
Wikipedia
Source ↗Capparis zeylanica is a climbing shrub common in the forests of the Indian subcontinent, Indo-China, China and Malesia; no subspecies are listed in the Catalogue of Life. Several species of Lepidopteran larvae feed on its leaves.
Production
In China it flowers in February to April and fruits in July.
Notes
There are about 250 Capparis species. There are about 50 Capparis species in tropical America.
Names & Synonyms
Aathandai, Adonda, Adonda teega, Adondai, Ardanda, Asadua, Asaria, Bagh mukhwa, Bagnai, Baralauik, Cap tichlan, Cap tieh pan, Gai den, Gitoran, Gobindaphal, Govindi, Govind-phal, Halubagat-baging, Halubagat, His, Kaathatikaai, Kalookra, Karaluwa, Karambha, Karvila, Kevisi, Kolokera, Mai-nam-lawt, Mani-thani-yet, Mari punp, Melada, Nah-ma-nee-tanyet, Nwamani-than-lyet, Orkali, Rook saa, Sa-rae, Suduthoratti, Tarabtab, Thaolang-makkep, Toratti, Tottula, Vaghati, Wagat, Waghata, Waghati, Waghoti, Waghutale, Walakenaru, Yieokai
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