Capparis sepiaria (PROSEA)
From PlantUse English
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Introduction |
- Protologue: Syst. Nat. ed. 10, 2: 1071 (1759).
Vernacular names
- Indonesia: poka(n) (Madurese)
- Philippines: tarabtab, keme-keming (Tagalog), arayat (Iloko)
- Thailand: phee waidaat (peninsular), wua sang (north-eastern), naam kieo kai (central)
- Vietnam: cáp hàng rào.
Distribution
From India and Sri Lanka to southern China, southwards through Peninsular Malaysia, Indonesia (eastern Java, Madura, Lesser Sunda Islands, Sulawesi, the Moluccas), the Philippines, southern New Guinea and northern Australia.
Uses
In the Philippines, the plant is said to possess febrifugal properties, and is considered alterative and tonic.
Observations
- A woody vine or much-branched shrub, 1-3 m tall, with stout, marked zigzag twigs, young shoots greyish.
- Leaves oval to oblong-lanceolate, 3-8 cm × 1.2-3.5 cm, apex rounded, notched, midrib flattened above, firmly herbaceous, upper surface often with scattered minute warts, petiole 2-4(-7) mm long, hairy, thorns short, recurved, strong, 3-5 mm long; subumbels mostly axillary, 3-25-flowered.
- Pedicel slender, 4-25 mm long, sepals 4-6 mm long, petals 7-9 mm long, in lower half densely hairy, white, stamens 30-45, filaments 10-16 mm long, white, gynophore 8-14 mm.
- Berry globose or transversely oval, 1-1.5 cm in diameter, ivory-white or pale fleshy-coloured to dark violet; seeds 1-2.
C. sepiaria is found in dry localities, brushwood, hedges, teak forest, in the lowlands, often near the seaside, solitary or in groups.
Selected sources
- [74] Backer, C.A. & Bakhuizen van den Brink Jr, R.C., 1964—1968. Flora of Java. 3 volumes. Noordhoff, Groningen, the Netherlands. Vol. 1 (1964) 647 pp., Vol. 2 (1965) 641 pp., Vol. 3 (1968) 761 pp.
- [215] Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, 1948—1976. The wealth of India: a dictionary of Indian raw materials & industrial products. 11 volumes. Publications and Information Directorate, New Delhi, India.
Main genus page
Authors
- F.I. Windadri
