Capparis spinosa (Caper)

Life > eukaryotes > Archaeoplastida > Chloroplastida > Charophyta > Streptophytina > Plantae (land plants) > Tracheophyta (vascular plants) > Euphyllophyta > Lignophyta (woody plants) > Spermatophyta (seed plants) > Angiospermae (flowering plants) >  Eudicotyledons >  Core Eudicots >  Rosids >  Eurosid II > Order: Brassicales >  Family: Brassicaceae >  Genus: Capparis

Native to the Mediterranean, Arabia and central and west Asia. Grows as a shrub to 1 m high. The flower buds are pickled to produce capers that are used in tartare, ravigote, remoulade and puttanesca sauces and caper sauce for lamb. They are also used in fish dishes and hors d'oeuvres such as caponata. 

In southern Africa, the flower buds of Boscia albitrunca are pickled and used as a substitute for capers.

The bark and root bark are used in various herbal remedies.