Caper bush (Capparis spinosa)

Caper bush (Capparis spinosa) is a plant species in the Capparaceae family. It is a shrub that grows in a mounded form, reaching 60–90 cm in both height and width, with numerous branches and alternately arranged leaves. Its stems are a striking red color and arch outward, giving the plant a rounded shape. The leaves are succulent, thick, and glossy, ranging in shape from round to ovate.

C. spinosa produces complete, fragrant, and showy, featuring four sepals and four petals that range in color from white to a bright, reddish-white. They possess many long, purple stamens, with a single stigma that typically extends well above them.

The flower buds, known as "capers," are edible. The flowers bloom only during the day. This species thrives in intense sunlight and in soil that is well-drained and low in fertility. The plant is also capable of surviving in coastal conditions.

This plant is rich in phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and other bioactive substances that provide moisturizing, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties, which are beneficial for skincare. While most of the empirical evidence available to date remains preclinical or stems from early-stage clinical trials, a number of studies and reviews have directly linked this plant to the use of cosmetic and dermocosmetic products.

TAXON

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Brassicales
Family: Capparaceae
Genus: Capparis Tourn. ex L. in Sp. Pl.: 503 (1753)
Section: Capparis
Species: Capparis spinosa L. in Sp. Pl.: 503 (1753)
Subspecies: Capparis spinosa subsp. spinosa , Capparis spinosa subsp. aegyptia (Lam.) Kit Tan & Runemark, Capparis spinosa subsp. parviflora (Boiss.) Ahmadi, H.Saeidi & Mirtadz., Capparis spinosa subsp. rupestris (Sm.) Nyman, Capparis spinosa subsp. cordifolia (Lam.) Fici
Variety: Capparis spinosa var. atlantica (Inocencio, D.Rivera, Obón & Alcaraz) Fici, Capparis spinosa var. canescens Coss., Capparis spinosa var. herbacea (Willd.) Fici, Capparis spinosa var. mucronifolia (Boiss.) Hedge & Lamond ex R.R.Stewart, Capparis spinosa var. myrtifolia (Inocencio, D.Rivera, Obón & Alcaraz) Fici, Capparis spinosa var. ovata (Desf.) Sm.

HOMOTYPIC SYNONYMS

Capparis vulgaris Gruvez in H.A.Tessier, Encycl. Méth., Agric. 2: 656 (1791)

HETEROTYPIC SYNONYMS

Capparis vulgaris acutifolia Gruvez in H.A.Tessier, Encycl. Méth., Agric. 2: 656 (1791)
Capparis vulgaris inermis Gruvez in H.A.Tessier, Encycl. Méth., Agric. 2: 656 (1791)

PUBLICATIONS

Aung, Y.L., Aung, M.H., Tan, Y. & Jin, X. (2025). An updated checklist of vascular plants of Myanmar. PhytoKeys 261: 135-364.

Authier, P. & Covillot, J. (2011). Catalogue actualisé des plantes de l'île de Rhodes (Grèce). Saussurea; Travaux de la Société Botanique de Genève 41: 131-170.

B.A.Fedtschenko & al. (1948). Flora Turkmenii 3: 1-280. Turkmenskoe gosudarstvennoe izd., Ashkhabad.

Baksh-Comeau, Y., Maharaj, S.S., Adams, C.D., Harris, S.A., Filer, D.L. & Hawthorne, W.D. (2016). An annotated checklist of the vascular plants of Trinidad and Tobago with analysis of vegetation types and botanical 'hotspots'. Phytotaxa 250: 1-431.

Boulos, L. (1999). Flora of Egypt 1: 1-419. Al Hadara Publishing, Cairo.

Dimopoulos, P., Raus, T., Bergmeier, E., Constantinidis, T., Iatrou, G., Kokkini, S., Strid, A., & Tzanoudakis, D. (2013). Vascular plants of Greece. An annotated checklist: 1-372. Botanic gardens and botanical museum Berlin-Dahlem, Berlin and Hellenic botanical society, Athens.

Dobignard, A. & Chatelain, C. (2011). Index synonymique de la flore d'Afrique du nord 3: 1-449. Éditions des conservatoire et jardin botaniques, Genève.

Fici, S. (2014). A taxonomic revision of the Capparis spinosa group (Capparaceae) from the Mediterranean to Central Asia. Phytotaxa 174: 1-24.

Ghazanfar, S.A. (1992). An Annotated Catalogue of the Vascular Plants of Oman and their Vernacular names. Scripta Botanica Belgica 2: 1-153.

Govaerts, R. (1999). World Checklist of Seed Plants 3(1, 2a & 2b): 1-1532. MIM, Deurne.

Komiljon, T., Natalya, B., Avazbek, B., Dilnoza, A., Ziyoviddin, Y., Deng, T. & Sun, H. (2020). Flora of the Dzhizak Province, Uzbekistan: 1-523. China Forestry Publishing House.

Korovin, E.P. & Vvedensky, A.I. (eds.) (1955). Flora Uzbekistana 3: 1-824. Izd-va Akademii nauk Uzbekskoi SSR, Tashkent.

Kotiya, A., Solanki, Y. & Reddy, G.V. (2020). Flora of Rajasthan: 1-769. Rajasthan state biodiversity board.

Kress, W.J., DeFilipps, R.A., Farr, E. & Kyi, D.Y.Y. (2003). A Checklist of the Trees, Shrubs, Herbs and Climbers of Myanmar. Contributions from the United States National Herbarium 45: 1-590. Smithsonian Institution.

Litvinskaya, S.A. & Murtazaliev, R.A. (2013). Flora of the Northern Caucasus: An Atlas and Identification Book: 1-688. Fiton XXI.

Mao, A.A. & Dash, S.S. (2020). Flowering Plants of India an Annotated Checklist (Dicotyledons) 1: 1-970. Botanical Survey of India.

Ovczinnikov, P.N. (ed.) (1975). Flora Tadzhikskoi SSR 4: 1-576. Izd-vo Akademii nauk SSSR, Moskva.

Pasha, M.K. & Uddin, S.B. (2013). Dictionary of plant names of Bangladesh, Vasc. Pl.: 1-434. Janokalyan Prokashani, Chittagong, Bangladesh.

Sauerbier, H., Cabrera Calixto, F. & Muer, T. (2023). Flora Vascular de Canarias: 1-1514. Turquesa.

Shaheen, H., Qureshi, R., Akram, A., Gulfraz, M. & Potter, D. (2014). A preliminary floristic checklist of Thal desert Punjab, Pakistan. Pakistn Journal of Botany 46: 13-18.

Tutin, T.G. & al. (eds.) (1993). Flora Europaea ed. 2, 1: 1-581. Cambridge University Press.

Wood, J.R.I. (1997). A handbook of the Yemen Flora: 1-434. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

VERNACULAR NAME

Arabic: قبار - كبر - شفلح
Armenian: Կապար փշավոր
Catalan: Taperera
Chinese (simplified): 刺山柑
Chinese (traditional): 刺山柑
Croatian: Bodljikava kapara, Kapare, Kaprice, Trnoviti kapar
Czech: Kapara trnitá
Danish: Kapers
Dutch: Kappertjesplant
English: Caper bush, Flinders rose
Estonian: Torkav kappar
Filipino: Alcaparras
Finnish: Kapris
French: Câprier, Câprier Commun
German: Echter Kapernstrauch
Greek: Κάππαρη
Hindi: काबरा Kabra
Indonesia: Kaper
Italian: Cappero
Japanese: ケーパー
Kaper
Ladakhi: Kabra
Lithuanian: Dygliuotasis kaparis
Malaysia: Melada
Polish: Kapary cierniste
Portuguese: Alcaparra
Russian: Каперсы колючие
Sanskrit: Himsra, Kakdani
Slovak: Kapara tŕnitá
Slovenian: Navadni kaprovec
Spanish: Alcaparrera
Swedish: Kapris
Turkish: Kapari, Gebere, Gebre Out, Kebere
Ukrainian: Каперці колючі

Aryo Bandoro
Dlium TheDlium
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