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Capparidaceae

A Dictionary of Plant Sciences | 1998 | 591 words | Copyright

Capparidaceae (Capparaceae; order Capparidales) A family of dicotyledonous (Dicotyledoneae) plants most of which are shrubs and small trees. The leaves are alternate, simple or compound, with stipules which are sometimes spiny. The flowers are usually borne in racemes, and have 4 petals, 2 pairs of sepals, 4–6 or more stamens, and a superior ovary of 2 carpels. The fruit is a berry, nut or drupe. The flower buds of Capparis spinosa (caper) are cooked and pickled for use as flavouring. There are about 45 genera, with 675 species, occurring in tropical and warm temperate regions.

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