Capparis spinosa L.

Shrubs, prostrate or hanging, 50-80(-100) cm tall. Twigs glabrous to densely long or shortly white pubescent with simple trichomes, soon glabrescent. Stipular spines 4-5 mm, ± flat, apex recurved. Petiole 1-4 mm; leaf blade ovate, obovate, broadly elliptic, or suborbicular, 1.3-3 × 1.2-2 cm, 1-1.7 × as long as wide, fleshy when fresh but later leathery, midvein abaxially raised but gradually becoming obscure from base to apex, secondary veins 4(or 5) on each side of midvein, base rounded, apex acute, obtuse, or retuse but spine-tipped. Flowers solitary in upper axils; buds ± symmetrical. Pedicel 2-6(-9) cm. Calyx zygomorphic; sepals 1.5-2 × 0.6-1.1 cm, outside ± with trichomes, inside glabrous; sepals of outer whorl navicular-lanceolate, outside with several glands, basally shallowly saccate; sepals of inner whorl 1-2 cm, not saccate or galeate, not broadest near base, 3-4.5 mm deep in distal half. Petals dimorphic, ± as long as or slightly longer than anterior sepals; anterior 2 petals white, distinct, claw 4-7 mm, blade oblong-obovate, 1-2 cm, outside with trichomes, apex subemarginate; posterior 2 petals yellowish green to green, enclosed by sepals, thickened, margin connate from base almost to middle. Stamens ca. 80; filaments 2-4 cm, unequal; anthers 2-3 mm. Gynophore ca. 1 cm, sometimes basally sparsely villous; ovary ellipsoid, 3-4 mm, glabrous, apically with vertical thin furrow and ridge; placentae 6-8; ovules numerous; style and stigma obscure, moundlike. Fruit dark green when dry, ellipsoid to oblong-obovoid, 1.5-4 × 0.8-1.8 cm, with 6-8 lengthwise thin ridges, dehiscent; fruiting pedicel and gynophore 3-7 cm, 1.5-2 mm in diam., forming a right angle with each other. Seeds 40-60 per fruit, reddish brown, reniform to globose, 3-4 mm, smooth. Fl. Jun-Jul, fr. Aug-Sep. 2n = 24.

It is a tropical or Mediterranean plant. It grows along streams and in rocky coastal areas. In Nepal it grows up to 2000 m altitude. In the Indian Himalayas it grows between 3,000-3,700 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 9-12.

The unopened flower buds are pickled in vinegar and used as capers. The fruit are edible. The unripe fruit are eaten as a vegetable. The young leaves are extracted in 2 changes of water then the solid mass is cooked and eaten. Capers are used to garnish pizzas and in sauce. Young sprouts are eaten.

Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings.