Edible capers are actually the immature, dark green flower buds of the caper bush (Capparis spinosa or Capparis inermis), an ancient perennial native to the Mediterranean and some parts of Asia. Capers are most often preserved by pickling them in a brine of vinegar, salt, or wine, or by curing in salt.
This month we have two of the genera in Capparaceae flowering, Capparis and Maerua.
Capparis
Worldwide there are about 250 species within the genus Capparis, only 5 of which occur in southern Africa. The plants are scramblers or shrubs, usually with stipules that are modified to form paired hooked spines. Leaves are simple and alternate. Flowers are borne in clusters. The flowers have 4 overlapping sepals, the 2 outer sepals being larger than the inner 2. Fruits are round to cylindrical.
Capparis is the classic Greek name for the genus.
Capparis tomentosa (Wooly Caper-bush, wollierige kapperbos (A), ukhokhwana (Z))
This species is a robust canopy climber found on forest fringes. Young parts are covered in dense, velvety, yellow hairs. Spines are short, paired, hooked. Leaves are simple, alternate, hairy becoming smooth. Flowers are large, white and sweet scented and are borne in profusion in terminal clusters. Fruits are large, ripening to orange brown and hang on stout stalks. In August there has been a profusion of flowers on one large Capparis tomentosa located in the forest patch north of the steel bridge.
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| Capparis tomentosa |
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| Capparis tomentosa |
Maerua
The genus Maerua has its centre of diversity in Africa, though some species extend their range as far north as the Middle East and as far east as India. There are about 100 species world-wide, with 11 found in South Africa.
Maerua is probably derived from the Arabic name meru for the genus,
which refers to M. crassifolia. Members of this genus are shrubs, trees or scramblers. Leaves are alternate,
simple or 3 to 5-foliolate. Flowers are found in axillary clusters, have 4 spreading sepals, petals number 0-4 and these are smaller than the sepals. Stamens are numerous, hence the common name spiderbush. Fruits are round, oval or like a string of beads. Flowers are visited by bees.
This August we have two members of the genus flowering in the forest areas near Renishaw. These are Maerua caffra and Maerua racemulosa.
M. caffra (Bush cherry, witbos (A), untswantswane (Z))
M. caffra can often be found on forest fringes or out in the open. This species has leaves which are 3- to 5-foliolate. The flowers are large and striking. The fruits are large, oval, with longitudinal lines and hang on stout stalks.
M. caffra (Bush cherry, witbos (A), untswantswane (Z))
M. caffra can often be found on forest fringes or out in the open. This species has leaves which are 3- to 5-foliolate. The flowers are large and striking. The fruits are large, oval, with longitudinal lines and hang on stout stalks.
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| Maerua caffra |
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| Maerua caffra |
M. racemulosa (Forest bush cherry, withoutbos (A) umphunzizo (Z)) M. racemulosa, on the other hand, appears to prefer deep shade and can be found in the undergrowth in the shade of larger trees. This species has simple leaves. The flowers are smaller than those of M. caffra. Fruits are small, round, fleshy, borne on long stalks and yellow when ripe.
In both cases the roots are reported to be ground up and used as a coffee substitute in times of drought.
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| Maerua racemulosa |
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| Maerua racemulosa |
Wikipedia
Boone, R. Pooley's Trees of Eastern South Africa. A Complete Guide. Flora and Fauna publications Trust. 2010.
