Capparaceae

Cadaba Forssk.

First published in Fl. Aegypt.-Arab.: 67 (1775)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Tropical & Subtropical Old World.

Descriptions

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

Morphology General Habit
Shrubs or small trees
Morphology Leaves
Leaves simple, alternate or clustered
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a terminal, corymbose raceme, or flowers clustered or solitary in the leaf axils
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers zygomorphic. Receptacle flattened or shallowly concave
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals 4, imbricate, the outer pair concave, the inner pair thin and flattened
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals 0 or 4, clawed, white or cream
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Nectaries
Nectarial appendage arising from the base of the androphore, lower part tubular, upper part often petaloid and showy
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 4–5; filaments free, sometimes decurrent along the gynophore
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynophore
Gynophore often exceeding the stamens; ovary cylindrical or spindle-shaped, 1–2-celled, with capitate, sessile or subsessile stigma; ovules several, on 2(–4) placentas
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit cylindrical to ellipsoid, sometimes torulose, dehiscent or indehiscent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds reniform, usually embedded in scarlet pulp.
Distribution
Genus of about 30 species in the drier regions of tropical and subtropical Africa, Madagascar, Asia and Australia.
[FSOM]

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

Morphology General Habit
Shrubs or small trees, usually unarmed
Morphology Leaves
Leaves petiolate, simple or 3-foliolate
Morphology Leaves Stipules
Stipules small and inconspicuous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a terminal raceme or the flowers solitary to fascicled in the leaf-axils
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals 4, free, in 2 series, the outer pair concavely folded, the inner pair enclosed by the outer, often flatter
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals 4 or 0, clawed
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Androphore sometimes markedly elongate with a tubular or ligulate nectarial appendage arising from the base, either free and at a wide angle or somewhat erect and fused in its lower part to the androphore; apex of the appendage sometimes prolonged and somewhat petaloid on the lower side; stamens (3–)4–5; filaments practically verticillate or with 1 filament remote and below, sometimes clearly adnate in their lower part to the androgynophore
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Gynophore of varying length; ovary 1–2-locular with 2(–4) multi-ovulate placentas
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruits subcylindrical, slightly torulose, tardily dehiscent; internal tissues surrounding the seeds often bright orange or scarlet.
[FTEA]

Capparidaceae, H. Wild. Flora Zambesiaca 1:1. 1960

Morphology General Habit
Shrubs, unarmed or the branches becoming spine-tipped.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves usually entire, occasionally rudimentary or absent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers somewhat zygomorphic, solitary or fascicled in the leaf-axils or in terminal, leafless racemes.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals 4, sub-equal or unequal in 2 series, the upper and lower valvate and enclosing the lateral sepals.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals 2–4 or 0, clawed.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Disc
Disk large and conspicuous forming a nectary adherent to the base of the androgynophore, urceolate or infundibuliform or tubular, sometimes with a recurved neck, sometimes dentate at the mouth.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androgynophore
Androgynophore elongated and often declinate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 4–8.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary on an elongated gynophore, 1-locular with 2–(4) placentas, multiovulate; stigma sessile, capitate or forming an apiculus on the ovary.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit cylindric, indehiscent or tardily dehiscent by 2 valves, glabrous or glandular, many-seeded.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds subglobose or subreniform; testa ridged or smooth, often embedded in a bright orange or scarlet, floury matrix.
[FZ]

Sources

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Somalia

    • Flora of Somalia
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0