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native caper
Scientific Name: Capparis sandwichiana
Family: Capparaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Shrub
Duration: Perennial
Other Names:
Native Caper: A Botanical Overview
This page explores various plants referred to as "Native Caper," encompassing several species within the Capparis genus. It highlights their distribution, characteristics, and interactions, with particular attention to Australian and Floridian varieties.
Considerations for Pets
- Some Native Caper species possess spiky leaves when young.
Considerations for Children
- Some Native Caper species possess spiky leaves when young.
Common Names and Scientific Names
- Scientific Names:
- Capparis spinosa
- Capparis arborea
- Capparis sarmentosa
- Capparis cynophallophora
- Capparis aegyptia
- Capparis sandwichiana
- Common Names:
- Native Caper
- Caper Bush
- Hawaiian Caper
- Native Pomegranate
- Wild Lime
- Wild Lemon
- Brush Caper Berry
- Flinders Rose
- Jamaican Caper
- Black Caper
- Bush Caper
- Scrambling Caper
- Egyptian Caper Bush
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Family: Capparaceae (also referred to as CAPPARACEAE)
- Group: Dicot
- Synonyms: Capparis spinosa var. mariana
Distribution and Habitat
- Native to various regions, including:
- Australia (with approximately 20 native species)
- New South Wales
- Cape Melville, tropical Queensland
- Mediterranean region (for the traditional caper, Capparis spinosa)
- United States (Hawaiian Islands)
- Southernmost South Florida
- Bahamas
- Caribbean
- Neotropics (coastal regions)
- Egypt
- Australia (with approximately 20 native species)
- Grows spontaneously in cracks and crevices.
Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits
- Habit: Shrub
- Duration: Perennial
- Capparis spinosa (caper bush) features rounded, fleshy leaves and large white to pinkish-white flowers.
- Jamaican Caper (Capparis cynophallophora) is an upright to spreading shrub, 6- to 18-feet tall, with evergreen leaves that have a dark green upper surface and silvery underside.
- Some species start with spiky leaves that mature into larger, softer leaves.
Ecological Role
- Food plant for the Caper White Butterfly.
Interactions with Other Organisms
- Attracts birds, especially the Jamaica Caper.
- Associated butterflies are found on prickly native plants in SEQ (South East Queensland), Australia, including native lime, native caper, native hibiscus, chain fruit, and native raspberries.
Quirky Facts
- Native Americans crushed limber caper roots for mustard and horseradish.
Resources and Further Information
- ARKive (mentioned as a source for Native caper photos and facts).
- Discover Life (page about the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Capparis sandwichiana).
- New Crop Center (for Capparis information).
- All Native Garden Center in Fort Myers, Florida (239-939-9663).
- Native Choice Nursery in southeast Florida (561-756-4370).