Capparis - Uses and Ecology

Uses and Ecology

Caperbushes are mainly used by humans for their fruit, which are rich in micronutrients. C. spinosa, simply known as caper, yields fruit and more importantly flower buds, which are widely used pickled as a vegetable condiment. The fruit of other species, such as karir (C. decidua), are also used for cooking; C. mitchellii and the Wild passionfruit (the local subspecies of C. spinosa) are well-known bush tucker in Australia. Mabinlang seeds (C. masaikai) are eaten as sweets.

Mabinlang is also used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Aspalathos, the root of a shrub contained for example in the sacred Ancient Egyptian incense kp.t (kyphi), is sometimes considered to be C. spinosa. Other species have also recorded uses in herbalism and folk medicine; dedicated research is largely lacking however. Mabinlins are sweet-tasting proteins found in Mabinlang seed (and possibly in other Capparis species); at least one of them is highly resistant to heat. The market for mabinlins is presently not large, but this is mainly due to insufficient supply rather than to lack of demand.

Caperbushes from arid regions - chiefly C. decidua - are highly useful in landscape gardening, afforestation and reforestation. They can stop soil erosion and preserve agricultural land. Any large-flowered species can be used to attract butterflies. The Crimson Rose (Atrophaneura hector), a spectacular swallowtail butterfly of South Asia, likes to visit flowers of C. spinosa in the winter months for example.

The fruit and seeds of caperbushes are relished by many birds and other animals such as spiny-tailed lizards. Capparis plants are highly important as food for certain Lepidoptera caterpillars, many of them Colotini or Pierini:

• Appias lyncida (Chocolate Albatross) - recorded on C. heyneana and C. roxburghii
• Astraptes fulgerator (Two-barred Flasher) - recorded on C. frondosa
• Belenois aurota (Caper White or Pioneer) - recorded on C. zeylanica
• Cepora nerissa (Common Gull) - mainly on C. zeylanica
• Hebomoia glaucippe (Great Orangetip) - recorded on C. monii, C. roxburghii and C. "sepiaria"
• Ixias marianne (White Orangetip) - recorded on C. grandis
• Leptosia nina (Psyche) - recorded on C. zeylanica and others
• Pareronia ceylonica (Dark Wanderer) - recorded on C. heyneana
• Pareronia valeria (Common Wanderer) - recorded on C. zeylanica

The plant pathogenic ascomycete fungus Mycosphaerella capparis was described from a caperbush. Some species of Capparis are becoming rare, mainly due to habitat destruction, and a few are seriously threatened with extinction.