Capparaceae Capparis flexuosa (L.) L.

| |	© W.D. Hawthorne

Other images of the same specimen :

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |

Keywords in this picture :

• Fruit
• Flower & fruit
• Plant parts

Places where this species can be found :

• Annandale Falls - GRENADA
• River Sallee - GRENADA
• Palmiste - GRENADA

Species information

Description
Shrub, sometimes with pendulous ro climbing branches. Lf blades 2-10 x 1-6cm, apex acute to notched; base rounded to acute. Flowers fragrant. Petals white to pink, 2-3.5cm long x 1-2cm. White filaments 5-7cm long. Fruits 7-30cm long x 1-2cm wide, often constricted between seeds, with narrowed basal section (narrower than ex-flower stalk and 3-14cm long).

Interest
Capparis flexuosa L. Bay-leaved Caper The roots are very pungent, like horseradish, and may blister the skin (Morton 1981). Ahmed et al. (1972) reported the presence of glucocapparin in this species, from which methyl isothiocyanate is released when the plant material is crushed.

Specimen information

Collection Date
15/06/2001

Collector
W.D. Hawthorne, S.Cable & D. Jules

Specimen Number
520

Location
At side of main road 5 km from River Sallee towards Levera.

Notes
Shrub 3 m tall. BARK: smooth, green with pale blotches. SLASH: fibrous, yellow, quickly turning dark brown, green outer layer, smell like tamarind. LEAVES: US flat; LS only midrib prominant, sec. and tertiary nerves darker green. FLOWERS: white. (RHS colour code: Leaf upper =137A, below=138B)

Coordinates
Latitude: 12.120000 N   Longitude: 61.370000 W   Altitude: 50