Family:
Capparaceae Juss.
Genus:
Capparis Tourn. ex L.

Capparis cartilaginea Decne.

This species is accepted, and its native range is Egypt to Tanzania, W. Asia to India, Arabian Pen, W. Indian Ocean.

[FTEA]

Capparidaceae, J. Elffers, R. A. Graham & G. P. Dewolf. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1964

Morphology General Habit
Spreading or scrambling shrub, 0.5–4 m. high.
Morphology Stem
Young twigs densely appressed-white-pubescent, glabrescent.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves petiolate; blade broadlyelliptic, ovate or orbicular, 2–5.5 cm. long, l.8–5(–6) cm. wide, acute, rounded or slightly emarginate, with the midrib ending in a small recurved spine, broadly cuneate, rounded or cordate at the base, chartaceous, glabrous; petiole 9–25 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers solitary in the upper leaf-axils; pedicels stout, 3.5–12 cm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals unequal; 3 oblong-obovate, shallowly boat-shaped, about 1.5–2 cm. long; the other sepal up to 4 cm. long, strongly hooded at the apex.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals unequal; anterior pair oblong-obovate, up to about 1.5 cm. long; posterior pair apparently fused, about 3.5 cm. long, 2.5 cm. wide, hooded and enclosed in the hooded sepal, the base clawed and with 2 elongate calluses; all petals white, glabrous or thinly pubescent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens many, about 3 cm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynophore
Gynophore 3–4 cm. long in flower, up to 6 cm. and stout in fruit.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruits ovoid or ellipsoid, up to 5 cm. long, 3 cm. in diameter, ribbed, red.
Figures
Fig. 10/3–6.
Habitat
Deciduous bushland, often on exposed rock or coral outcrops; 0–1800 m.
Distribution
Socotra, to the Middle East and Pakistan K1 K2 K3 K4 K6 K7 T2 T8 Z

[FSOM]

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit
Scrambling shrub up to 3 m tall; young twigs densely covered with short, appressed hairs
Morphology Leaves
Leaf-blades ovate-elliptic, 2.5–5(–6) x 1.4–4.5 cm, thick or leathery, pubescent on both surfaces when young, apically rounded, obtuse or acute, with short recurved mucro, basally rounded, subcordate or cuneate; petiole 0.4–2.6 cm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Flowers axillary; pedicels stout, 2.3–11 cm long, thickened in fruit
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx zygomorphic, with posterior sepal up to 3.5–4 cm long, saccate, the others 1.4–2 cm long, concave, externally puberulous or glabrous, marginally tomentose
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals whitish, glabrous or puberulous, the upper pair connate, obdeltoid, up to 3.5 cm long, apically included in the posterior sepal, the lower pair free, obovate, 1.2–1.8 cm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens many, up to 3 cm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynophore
Gynophore 3.5–6 cm long, thickened in the fruit; ovary elliptic-obovate, c. 5 mm long, with flattened, subsessile stigma
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit globose-ellipsoid, reddish, 3–6 x 1.6–4 cm, ribbed.
Distribution
N1–3; C1; S2, 3 Arabia eastwards to India.
Ecology
Altitude up to 1500 m.
Vernacular
Goah, goah-kulul, goh, gombor (Somali).

[FSOM]
Use
The fruit is reported as edible and the dried leaves are chewed against cough.

Native to:

Afghanistan, Aldabra, Bangladesh, Chad, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gulf States, India, Iran, Iraq, Kenya, Kuwait, Libya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Sinai, Socotra, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Yemen

Capparis cartilaginea Decne. appears in other Kew resources:

Date Reference Identified As Barcode Type Status Has image?
Jan 1, 2008 Freidberg [Eth 103], Ethiopia K000191280 No
Jan 1, 1991 Schweinfurth, G. [1265], Yemen K000076939 Yes
Jan 1, 1957 Bové, N. [148], Egypt K000076940 Yes
Jan 1, 1957 Lord, J. K. [s.n.], Egypt K000076941 Yes
Jan 1, 1957 Bové, N. [148], Egypt K000076943 Yes
Jan 1, 1957 Lord, J. K. [s.n.], Egypt K000076942 Yes
Hunter, P.J. [11348], Tanzania 25872.000 No
Renvoize, S.A. [884], Seychelles 7314.001 No
Springfield, E.O., Sudan Capparis galeata 16175.000 No
Drummond, R.B. [1011], Kenya Capparis galeata 16576.000 No
Burger, W. [3227], Ethiopia Capparis galeata K001044819 neotype Yes
Jan 1, 1957 Thomson, T. [s.n.], Yemen Capparis uncinata K001044820 neotype Yes

First published in Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot., sér. 2, 3: 273 (1835)

Accepted by

  • (2020). https://www.mapress.com/j/pt/article/view/phytotaxa.456.1.1/40951 epublication.
  • Darbyshire, I., Kordofani, M., Farag, I., Candiga, R. & Pickering, H. (eds.) (2015). The Plants of Sudan and South Sudan: 1-400. Kew publishing, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Dobignard, A. & Chatelain, C. (2011). Index synonymique de la flore d'Afrique du nord 3: 1-449. Éditions des conservatoire et jardin botaniques, Genève.
  • Edwards, S., Tadesse, M., Demissew, S. & Hedberg, I. (eds.) (2000). Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea 2(1): 1-532. The National Herbarium, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia & The Department of Systematic Botany, Upps.
  • Govaerts, R. (1999). World Checklist of Seed Plants 3(1, 2a & 2b): 1-1532. MIM, Deurne.
  • Hedge, I. & Lamond, J. (1970). Flora Iranica 68: 1-32. Akademische Druck- u. Verlagsanstalt, Graz.
  • Miller, A.G. & Cope, T.A. (1996). Flora of the Arabian peninsula and Socotra 1: 1-586. Edinburgh university press.
  • Miller, A.G. & Morris, M. (2004). Ethnoflora of Soqotra Archipelago: 1-759. The Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh.
  • Nasir, E. & Ali, S.I. (eds.) (1970-1995). Flora of West Pakistan 1-131.
  • Townsend, C.C. & Guest, E. (eds.) (1980). Flora of Iraq 4(1): 1-628. Ministry of Agriculture & Agrarian Reform, Baghdad.
  • Wood, J.R.I. (1997). A handbook of the Yemen Flora: 1-434. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Literature

Kew Backbone Distributions

  • Hedge, I. & Lamond, J. (1970). Flora Iranica 68: 1-32. Akademische Druck- u. Verlagsanstalt, Graz.
  • Miller, A.G. & Cope, T.A. (1996). Flora of the Arabian peninsula and Socotra 1: 1-586. Edinburgh university press.

Flora of Somalia

  • Flora Somalia, Vol 1, (1993) Author: by S. Fici [updated by M. Thulin 2008]

Flora of Tropical East Africa

  • B. L. Burtt & Lewis in Kew Bulletin 4: 299 (1949).
  • Dale & Greenway, Kenya Trees and Shrubs p. 118 (1961).
  • Decne. in Ann. Sci. Nat., sér. 2, 3: 273 (1835).

  • Flora of Somalia

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