REVIEW OF FOOD AND MEDICINAL USES OF
SUBGENUS CAPPARIS (CAPPARIDACEAE) 1
CAPPARIS L.
DIEGO RIVERA, CRISTINA INOCENCIO, CONCEPCION OBON, AND
FRANCISCO ALCARAZ
Rivera, D., Inocencio, C., Alcaraz, F. (Department of Plant Biology, University of Murcia,
30100 Espinardo, Murcia, Spain. e-mail: drivera@um.es) Ob6n, C. (Department of Applied
Biology, EPSO, University Miguel Herndndez, 03312 Orihuela, Alicante, Spain). REVIEWOF
FOODAND MEDICINAL USES OF CAPPARIS L. SUBGENUS CAPPARIS (CAPPARIDACEAE). Economic
Botany 57(4):515-534, 2003. Capers of commerce are immature flower buds which have been
pickled either in vinegar or preserved in granular salt. Semi-mature fruits and young shoots
with small leaves may also be pickled for use as a condiment. The use of capers can be traced
to the prehistory. Although Capparis spinosa from the western Mediterranean is the most widely
used species, the subgenus comprises 23 species and subspecies occupying large territories
from the Atlantic coasts to the Pacific in the Old World. We have recorded medicinal and food
uses for 19 species.
REVISION DE LOS U s o s ALIMENTARIOS Y MEDICINALES DE CAPPARIS SUBGF.NERO CAPPARIS (CAPPARIDACEAE).I_ZISalcaparras del comercio son botones florales encurtidos en vinagre o pres-
ervados en sal gruesa. Los frutos inmaduros y los brotes tiernos provistos de hojitas tambidn
se utilizan encurtidos como condimento. El uso de las alcaparras se remonta hasta la prehistoria. Aunque la especie Capparis spinosa, que habita la regi6n mediterrdnea occidental es la
mds utilizada, el subgFnero comprende 23 especies y subespecies que se extienden desde las
costas Atldnticas hasta el Pacffico en Africa, Asia, Europa y Oceanfa. Se han registrado usos
para 19 especies y subespecies, que son de interds alimentario y medicinal.
Key Words: medicinal plants; condiments; horticulture; food science; capers; Europe; West
Asia; Central Asia; Oceania; Africa; indigenous knowledge; Capparis; Capparidaceae.
Capers and caper plants, wild or cultivated,
are used in almost all of the range of Capparis
subgenus Capparis, extending from West Africa
to the Norfolk Islands in the Pacific. Most of the
species are of alimentary or medicinal interest.
Current information of the uses of capers is
extremely dispersed and refers to ambiguous scientific names; a review of the available data was
undertaken in order to compare the past and present uses, and also to determine the possibilities
for further development. We also present a review of both the local names and uses of the
taxa of subgenus Capparis.
Capers of commerce are immature flower
buds which have been pickled in vinegar or preserved in granular salt. Semi-mature fruits and
young shoots with small leaves may also be
J Received: 16 January 2002; accepted 31 January
2003.
pickled for use as a condiment (Alkire 2001).
Existing national and international food legislation define capers as the buds of just Capparis
spinosa, but there is evidence that many others
species are also used. The explanatory notes to
the combined nomenclature of the European
Community 98/C 287/01, published 15 September 1998, define capers as the unopened flower
buds of the spiny perennial shrub (Capparis spinosa) under class 0709 90 40. The FAO defines
capers under the class number 0463--Other
Vegetables--includes inter alia: bamboo shoots
(Bambusa spp.); beets chards (Beta vulgaris);
and capers (Capparis spinosa) (UN/ECE Statistical Division 2001). The European Commission
(2001) includes capers in the list of Minor
Crops, within Spices with Codex Classification
HS 0773 and Bayer code CPPSP.
Capers were used in prehistoric times. Capparis spinosa was probably not utilized; however, other species, such as C. aegyptia, C. or-
Economic Botany 57(4) pp. 515-534. 2003
9 2003 by The New York Botanical Garden Press, Bronx, NY 10458-5126 U.S.A.
516
ECONOMIC BOTANY
ientalis, C. zoharyi, and C. sicula, the commonest in the eastern Mediterranean and the Near
East, may have been used. Caper seeds have
been recovered from archaelogical sites in northern Syria: Mesolithic layers of Tell Abu Hureyra
(Hillman 1975), Aceramic Mureybit (9th-8th
millennium B.C.) (Zeist and Bakker-Heeres
1986), Pre-Pottery Neolithic A (8th-7th millennium B.c.) Jerf the Ahmar and Halula (Willcox
1996); Pre-Pottery Neolithic B (8th millennium
B.C.) Djade (Willcox 1996). Also in Aceramic
(8th-7th millennium B.C.) Aswad, site of Damascus basin (Zeist and Bakker-Heeres 1982).
And in the Neolithic layers of Tell Abu Hureyra
(Hillman 1975). And in the early 3rd millennium
B.C., Tell Atij (McCorriston 1995). The Bronze
Age jar containing carbonized flower buds and
unripe fruits at Tell es Sweyhat, Syria, may indicate the established use of caper pickles in the
Bronze Age (Zeist and Bakker-Heeres 1988).
Campbell Thompson (cited by Blakelock and
Townsend 1980) recorded that the dried leaves
of caper steeped in vinegar have been used in
Syria for application to ulcers and scabs of the
head. Recently, 1999, we explored Syria and
found C. aegyptia to be extremely abundant in
the Damascus basin and C. sicula and C. aegyptia in the Upper Syrian Euphrates region. An
exhaustive review of capers in Prehistory and
Antiquity was published by Rivera et al. (2002).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
HERBARIA LABELS
The first source of information were the annotated labels of herbarium specimens studied
during our taxonomic revision of this subgenus.
The herbaria consulted were BISH, BM, C, E,
G, HUB, HUJ, JEPS, K, LINN, MA, MARSSJ,
and MUB (acronyms from Holmgren, Holmgren
and Barnett 1990). Data reported here as take
from herbarium labels are indicated by the plant
collector (and number, if any) in italics with the
herbarium acronym for the herbarium in which
we found the plant specimen.
FIELD NOTES
In our own field studies on the culture, uses,
harvesting, and cultivars of Capparis in Morocco, peninsular Spain and the Balearic Islands,
Syria, and Turkey, special care was taken to interview harvesters, farmers, and the staff of the
local industries.
[VOL. 57
LITERATURE
We exhaustively surveyed the botanical, ethnobotanical and agronomic literature. A search
was also done on the world-wide web (WWW)
in order to determine the relevance of capers in
the current years.
COMPARISON OF INFORMATION
These data are compared for each taxon. Special care was taken to include local ethnobotanical studies. General, ambiguous references were
excluded. The study area was defined by the distribution range of subgenus Capparis, stretching
from the Atlantic coasts of Africa and southern
Europe, eastward to the Pacific Islands and Australia, southwestern Asia, Central Asia, Madagascar, and India.
BOTANICAL IDENTIFICATION
AND NOMENCLATURE
Names and identifications of the plants from
the other information sources have been adjusted
this report to conform to those used by Inocencio (2001 ).
RESULTS
Data are presented for individually for 19 taxa
and, finally, their cultivation, and commercial,
food, and medicinal uses are summarized. We
have not recorded names or uses for the following taxa and areas: Capparis mucronifolia Boiss.
subsp, mucronifolia from Iran; Capparis
mucronifolia Boiss. subsp, rosanoviana (B.
Festsch.) Inocencio, D. Rivera, Ob6n, Alcaraz,
from Tadjikistan; Capparis parviflora Boiss.
subsp, sphaerocarpa Inocencio, D. Rivera,
Ob6n and Alcaraz, from Afghanistan; and Capparis antanossarum Baillon, from Madagascar,
either because data were not available to us or
simply do not exist.
1. CAPPARIS SICULA VEILL. IN DUHAM.
SUBSP. SICULA
This is the most widespread taxon, extending
from the Atlantic coasts of southern Europe and
North Africa to the eastern Mediterranean coast
Common Names: Spain: (Andalucfa) Alcaparrilla (flower buds), Alcaparrones (fruits), A1caparra, Mata Panera, Tapanera (plant) (Mesa
1996; Martfnez, Gonzfilez-Tejero and Molero
1997); (Arag6n) Tapara (Femindez and Sanz
1993); (Castilla): Alcaparra; (Catalufia): Tfiperes; (Murcia): Tapenera, Alcaparro, Tfipano, T~p-
2003]
RIVERA ET AL.: FOOD AND MEDICINAL USES OF CAPPARIS
517
TABLE 1. RECOGNIZEDCULTIVARSOF CAPPARIS SICULA, C. ZOHARYI, AND C. CORDIFOLIA.
Capparis sicula subsp, sicula
Cultivar
Description
Localities
Flower buds less rounded, producing Salina, Italy
flattened pyramidal capers, which
tend to flake. Leaves rounded, stout
well developed spines. Often collected from wild populations.
It is becoming very rare due to the
Spinoso di
Pantelleria, Italy
Pantelleria
conspicuous presence of sharp
thorns. Leaf tip also with a small
thorn. Leaf oblong-ovate. Petiole
long.
Com~n, Del
Murcia and GranaDecumbent twigs, stout well developed spines. Pyramidal flower
Pais
da, Spain
buds, good blossom but irregular.
Large fruits.
Spinoso,
Spinoso
di Salina
Reference
Barbera and Di Lorenzo 1984;
Barbera et al. 1991; Fici and
Gianguzzi 1997; Caccette
1982
Barbera et al. 1991; Fici and
Gianguzzi 1997
Luna and P6rez 1985
Capparis zoharyt
Cultivar
De Sail
Description
Localities
Flower buds rounded, producing globose capers, stout well developed
spines.
Sail, Morocco
Reference
Inocencio 2001
Capparts cordifi)lia subssp, cordifolia
Cultivar
Alcaparras
Description
Flower buds rounded, producing globose capers, without well developed spines,
ena, Caparra, (flower bud) Caparr6n, Mel6n
(fruit) (Ob6n and Rivera 1991); (Valencia): Thpera (fruit), Taperera (plant) (Ferr~ndez and Sanz
1993). France: Caprier. Italy: Capparo, Cappari; (Sicily): Cappero, Chiappara, Chiappara
spinusa (Duhamel 1801; Williams 1971). Portugal: Alcaparras, Alcaparreira. Cyprus: Kappari (Anonymous 2001). Greece: Kappari; [the
plant is here so common that many localities
bear names derived from the abundant capers,
viz. Kappari Beach in Myconos, or Kapparia in
Korthi, or Kapparinos River]. Turkey: Kapari,
Kebere, (Konya): Keditirnagi; (Gaziantep): Kehere ~igegi (flowers), Kebera krkti (roots) (Baser, Honda and Miki 1986; 0zkahraman, Y~iksek
and Kalkinma 2000).
Cultivation: Most of the uses are reported
from the wild populations; the species is cultivated as crop plant in Morocco, Italy, and Spain
(Table 1).
Uses as Food: In the present, the use of this
plant is centered in the flower buds, unripe
fruits, and tender shoots, pickled in brine or vin-
Localities
Guam, Marianas;
Manila, Philippines
Reference
Aklire 2001; Merrill 516, K
egar and used as a condiment. European sources
are Spain, Greece and Turkey. Cyprus: Shoots,
unripe fruits, and flower buds are used in local
salads "khoritiaki." They are preserved either in
olive oil or in vinegar. Shoots with thorns, usually pickled, are common in salads (Arnold
1985, Anonymous 2001). Spain: The flower
buds, unripe fruits, and tender shoots are brined
and preserved in vinegar in Murcia, Almerfa,
and Granada. Murcian capers were exported as
early as in 1478 (Zamora 1997). American companies are importing pickled caper and caperberries from Lorca's local industries in Murcia,
where they have been harvesting and processing
capers and caperberries for decades (Wainer
2001). In Mfigina (Jarn) brined flowers and
fruits are consumed as snacks or in salads (Mesa
1996). Greece: Capers have been used in
Greece for thousands of years as a condiment.
Today, capers are used in a wide variety of
Greek dishes, from appetizers and poultry, to
seafood (Nikolozakes 2001). Morocco: The
flower buds are pickled. These are exported to
518
ECONOMIC BOTANY
Fig. 1. Large containers with unprocessed brined
C. sicula capers in Fes, Morocco. (Photograph by C.
Inocencio).
[VOL. 57
the European Union and other countries by different industries of the region of Fes and Meknes, Figs. 1 and 2 (Inocencio 2001; Lakrimi
2002).
Uses in Medicine: Turkey: One desert spoonful of powdered root with water is taken, after
meals, for hemorrhoids (Baser, Honda and Miki
1986). Flowers are tonic, diuretic and blood purifier in allergic diseases, an infusion of one
spoonful in one liter water is taken one glassful
after meals three times a day (Baser, Honda and
Miki 1986). Fruits are externally applied for the
treatment of headaches and piles in Anatolia (Ozturk and 6zqelik 1991). Cyprus: The roots are
boiled and used as an aperitif, tonic, astringent,
antiemetic, anti-diarheal, anti-rheumatic. Leaves
and fruits are used as aphrodisiac, anti-rheumatic,
and anti-odontalgic (Arnold 1985). Italy: On the
island of Lipari, a mixture powdered root barks
of wild capers and walnut are used in the treatment of intermittent fevers (Estateolie 200l). In
Sicily, leaves of the common caper, which have
been gathered with the left hand, are ground up
and applied to ulcers to make them suppurate
(Williams 1971). Spain: The roots are used both
as an anti-rheumatic and for tooth-ache in Granada (Gonzgdez-Tejero 1989). Roots are used lo-
Fig. 2. Caper market in central Morocco. (Photograph by C. Inocencio).
2003]
RIVERA ET AL.: FOOD AND MEDICINAL USES OF CAPPARIS
cally in Almerfa for baldness, tooth-ache, inflammations, and wounds in horses (Martfnez, Gonzfilez-Tejero and Molero 1997). In Murcia, the
root bark is used for tooth-ache and for healing
wounds (Ob6n and Rivera 1991). Twigs are used
in Almerfa for the treatment of ulcers (Martfnez,
Gonzfilez-Tejero and Molero 1997).
2. CAPPARIS SICULA VEILL. IN DUHAM.
SUBSP. HERBACEA (WILLD.)
INOCENCIO, D. RIVERA, OBON AND
ALCARAZ ( = C. h e r b a c e a Willd.,
C. ovata Desf. var herbacea (Willd.)
Zohary)
Common Names: Armenia: (south) Aggeenko (fruit, Bobrov 1939); Kapar (Grosheim
1952). Georgia: (Georgian): Kapari (Grosheim
1952). Turkey: Keber (()zttirk and 0z~elik
1991). Russia: (Russian): Kapersi (Grosheim
1952). Azerbaidjau: (Azeri): Kever (Grosheim
1952), Turkmenistan: (Russian): Kapersi Koliutchie (Tcharieva 1988).
Uses as Food: Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaidjan and Georgia): The flower buds of this
plant are considered of nutrative. In the Caucasus they are consumed locally; in both the eastern part of Ciscaucasia and in Daghestan, they
are pickled by the small scale food industry. In
southern Armenia, the ripe fruit is eaten raw
(Bobrov 1939, 1970). Pickled fruit are used as
condiment in Armenia and Azerbaidjan (Grosheim 1952). Uzbekistan: In the Fergana Valley
the fruit is eaten raw; large quantities are alos
stored for winter. Seeds are used for a source of
oil (Bobrov 1939, 1970). Turkey: Flower buds
are used as a seasoning in eastern Anatolia (Ozttirk and C)z~elik 1991).
Uses in Medicine: Turkey: Fruits are used
externally for headaches and piles, in eastern
Anatolia (Ozt~irk and Ozqelik 1991).
3. CAPPARIS SICULA VEILL. IN DUHAM.
SUBSP. LEUCOPHYLLA (DC.) INOCENCIO,
D. RIVERA, OBON AND ALCARAZ
(= C. leucophylla DC., C. spinosa L.
var. pubescens Zohary)
Common Names: Iran: Keverkai (J. Leonard,
K); (Farsi): Mar Gir, Mar Gaz [= snake bite];
(Tehran): Rishah-i-kabar (Hooper 1937). Iraq:
(Southern Desert) (Arabic) Shafallah; (Lower
Jazira): Kabar; (Kurdistan): Kifri (Blakelock and
Townsend 1980); (Persian) Kabar (bark) (Hooper 1937).
519
Uses as Food: Iran: Bakhtiari, the young
fruit are pickled in vinegar. Throughout Iran the
flower buds are harvested to make pickles
(Hooper 1937). Iraq: The fruit are eaten by people, the plants are eaten by camels (Blakelock
and Townsend 1980).
Uses in Medicine: Bahrain: Mahasneh, Abbas, and E1-Oqlah (1996) recorded the use in
traditional medicine as a tonic and an expectorant. Iran: The plant is the source of many local
herbal remedies for snake-bite, thus explaining
the local Persian names Mar Gir and Mar Gaz
(meaning snake bite) and others such as Alaf-i
Mar (Blakelock and Townsend 1980). The lightcolored root and the thick root bark are used in
medicine, the bark being the Capparis Cortex
Radicis of the old Persian Pharmacopoeia. They
are both pungent and bitter and are given for
intermittent fever and rheumatism (Hooper
1937).
4. CAPPARIS SICULA VEILL. IN DUHAM.
SUBSP. MESOPOTAMICA
INOCENCIO, D. RIVERA, OBON AND
ALCARAZ ( = C. o v a t a Desf. var.
palaestina Zohary pro parte)
Common Names: Saudi Arabia: Shafallah
(Mandaville 1990). Iraq: (Arabic) Kabar, Shafallah (Blakelock and Townsend 1980). Syria:
(Bedouins): Shefellah (Rivera and Ob6n, MUB).
Iran: Guh-i-kamar (= flower of the rocks),
Alaf-i-Mar (= snake plant), Margaz (= snake
bite); (Bakhtiari) Lagajee (Lee, K).
Uses as Food: Iran: the Bakhtiari tribe processes the unripe fruit in vinegar, for consumption (Lee, K). Syria and Turkey: Bedouins of
the Syrian Upper Euphrates region harvest the
flower buds for the Turkish food industry; it is
not used as a food in Syria, but it is an item of
commercial (Rivera and Ob6n, MUB).
Uses in Medicine: Iraq: The medicinal properties of the root are still acknowledged by the
Badawin: a decoction of the root taken orally as
a palliative for rheumatism (Blakelock and
Townsend 1980). Iran: It is used as a source of
numerous medicinal remedies and for snake
bites (Lee, K).
5. CAPPAmS SlCVt,4 VEILL. IN DUHAM.
SUBSP. SINDIANA
INOCENCIO, RIVERA, OBON, ALCARAZ
(= C. obovata Royle)
Common Names: India: Maratha language of
Goa: Kabara (Dalgao 1898); Bombay: Kabar,
520
ECONOMIC BOTANY
[VOL. 57
TABLE 2. RECOGNIZED CULTIVARSOF CAPPARIS ORIENTALIS AND C.
XSPINOSA.
Capparis orientalis
Cultivar
Fulla Redona
Cavall
Nuciddara,
Nocellara,
ltaliana (in
Spain)
Tondino
Testa di Lucertola
(=Lizard's
head)
Ciavulara
Description
Localities
Upper part of the shoots glabrous, unarmed. Fruiting abundantly. Flower
buds of superior quality.
Upper part of the shoots glabrous, unarmed. Poor blossom.
Flower buds rounder, almost spherical, considered of superior quality;
extremely perfumed, orbicular
leaves, notched, petiole short, absence of thorns. It is the most
widespread and productive. Product
protected in Italy, lOP, since 27
December 1993.
Cultivated (a synonym of Nuciddara?)
Reference
Mallorca, Spain
lnocencio 2001, Luna and P6rez
1985
Mallorca, Spain
Luna and Pdrez 1985
Pantelleria, Italy
Barbera and Di Lorenzo 1984;
Barbera et al. 1991; Fici and
Gianguzzi 1997
Salina and Pantelleria, Italy
Flower buds less rounded, called "liz- Pantelleria, Italy
ard's head" because of the characteristic lengthened pyramid shape
of the capers. Petiole short, leaves
ovate, no thorns. Considered of inferior quality. Its cultivation is continually contracting.
Flower buds less rounded, flatter than Pantelleria, Italy
those of Nocellara. Leaves ovate,
more or less acute, petiole short, no
thorns. Locally cultivated to a lesser
extent. Product of inferior quality.
Caccette 1985
Barbera and Di Lorenzo 1984;
Barbera et al. 1991
Fici and Gianguzzi 1997;
Barbera et al. 1991
Capparis Xspinosa
Cultivar
Josephine
Dolce
di Filicudi
e Alicudi
Nuccida,
Nocella
Description
One of the better Mediterranean selections but becoming rare.
Mild tasting flower buds.
Flower buds rounded, considered of
superior quality. High productivity.
Spines are usually present, particularly on the older branches, but not
much developed. Leaves rounded,
petiole long.
Rosa
Prolific blossom. Blossom stems without intercalary vegetative shoots.
Not fruiting. Almost glabrous upper
part of the shoots. Decaying leaves
purple tinged. Flower buds of superior quality.
Variegata
Leaves striped yellow or white.
Figues Seques Poor blossom. Blossom stems with
intercalary vegetative shoots. Flower buds large, flattened pyramidal,
which tend to flake, thus of inferior
quality. Sometimes bearing fruit.
Upper part of the shoots almost
glabrous.
Localities
Reference
Provence, France
Alkire 2001
Eolie, Italy
Alkire 2001
Salina, Italy
Barbera and Di Lorenzo 1984;
Fici and Gianguzzi 1997
Mallorca, Spain
Luna and Pdrez 1985; Rivera
et al. 1999
France
Mallorca, Spain
Duhamel 1801
Luna and P~rez 1985; Rivera
et al. 1999
2003]
RIVERA ET AL.: FOOD AND MEDICINAL USES OF CAPPARIS
521
TABLE 2. CONTINUED. XSPINOSA.
Capparis •
Cultivar
De las
Muradas,
Boscana
Redona
Peluda
Color6
Mallorquina,
Fina
Description
Prolific blossom. Blossom stems without intercalary vegetative shoots,
Upper part of the shoots glabrous.
Fruiting abundantly. Flower buds
of inferior quality.
Poor to good blossom. Flowering
stems with intercalary vegetative
shoots. Flower buds rounded, of
superior quality. Often bearing
abundant fruit. Upper part of the
shoots almost glabrous.
Prolific to normal blossom. Flowering
stems with intercalary vegetative
shoots. Flower buds of superior
quality. Often bearing fruit. Upper
part of the shoots wooly.
Poor blossom. Flowering stems without intercalary vegetative shoots.
Flower buds of inferior quality. Not
fruiting. Upper part of the shoots,
almost glabrous.
Prolific blossom. Flowering stems
without intercalary vegetative
shoots. Upper part of the shoots almost glabrous. Decaying leaves
yellow. Not fruiting. Flower buds
of superior quality.
Kalvhri (Cooke 1967); Kabar, Kawharg or Panetero (Jafri 1973). Pakistan: (Baluchistan):
Khwarg, Pahinro Kirap, Panetro Khafkhader
(Baquar 1989).
Uses as Food: Pakistan: camel and goat
graze on the plant; fruit and buds are sometimes
pickled for human consumption. The fruit is
pickled in Punjab. Buds and unripe fruit are
pickled as a condiment; ripe fruit is eaten raw
(Baquar 1989; Edgeworth 1862). India: Young
and ripe fruits are eaten raw; berries are boiled
and eaten with curd. Unripe berries and flower
buds are pickled. Leaves are used as fodder for
goats, camels and sheep (Nasir and Rafiq 1995;
Jafri 1973).
Uses in Medicine: India: An infusion of
leaves is used in treating gonorrhoea. In Ladakh
a decoction of leaves is drunk against hyperacidity (Sundara 1993). Root bark is considered
a diuretic, tonic, aperitif, expectorant, anthelmintic, emmenagogue, analgesic; it is also used
in paralysis, rheumatism, tubercular lymphadenitis and enlarged spleen (splenomegaly).
Localities
Reference
Mallorca, Spain
Luna and Ptrez 1985; Rivera
et al. 1999
Mallorca, Spain
Luna and Ptrez 1985; Rivera
et al. 1999
Mallorca, Spain
Rivera et al. 1999
Mallorca, Spain
Rivera et al. 1999
Mallorca, Spain
Rivera et al. 1999
Crushed leaves are used as a poultice for gout
(Baquar 1989). Its used in Ayurvedic medicine
as hepatic stimulant and protector, improving
liver function (Alkire 2001).
6. CAPPARIS ORIENTALIS V E I L L .
IN DUHAMEL (= C, rupestris Sm.,
C. spinosa L. subsp, rupestris (Sm.)
Nyman)
Common Names: Spain: (Arag6n): Tapara.
(Castilla): Alcaparra; (Catalufia): T~iperes. (Balearic Islands): T~tperes (flower buds), Gorrinets
(fruits), Taparera (plant) (Guerau and Torres
1981). France: Caprier. Italy: Capparo, Cappari, Capperi (Galli 2001); (Sicily): Chiappara;
(Pantelleria) Cappero (plants), Zucchette, Capperese, Cetriolini (island of Pantellaria, fruits)
(Barbera and Di Lorenzo 1982); (Bologna): Caper, Caparen (Ungarelli 1985). Greece: Kappari.
Portugal: Alcaparras, Alcaparreira. Libya: (Arabic) Cabbar, (Berber) Tilut (Jafri 1977).
Cultivation: On the island of Pantelleria, Italy
(Table 2), although available in small quantities
522
ECONOMIC BOTANY
from the wild, it is widely cultivated; the plants
propagated from seed. Caper fields are placed
close to the wild populations. Due to their proximity and insect cross pollination (nocturnal
moths and mosquito), gene flow between the
cultivated plants and the wild populations is
high (Barbera and Di Lorenzo 1982; Fici and
Gianguzzi 1997). The cultivar 'Nocellara' is
predominant in Pantelleria, accounting for 90%
of the local production. Flower buds are harvested from May to October by the members of
a local Cooperative Industry, involving 400
workers. Pantelleria's 'Nocellara' cultivar received the status of Indicazione Geographica
Protetta from the Italian authorities (Verde-Oggi
2001; Galli 2001). The species is grown as ornamental in the Balearic Islands of Spain,
France, and Italy, where it is sold as Capparis
spinosa 'Inermis'.
Uses as Food: Greece: In the Aegean, fruit
are pickled; in Candia, leaves and flower buds
are pickled. Spain: Tender fruit (gorrinets) and
flower buds (t~peres), brined and pickled, are
used in traditional foods of Ibiza in the Balearic
Islands (Guerau and Torres 1981). Italy: Fruits
are known in Italy as zucchette, capperese and
locally in Pantelleria as cetriolini. The fruits are
not gathered every year; for this purpose part of
the flower buds are allowed to reach anthesis
and to produce fruit. Harvest of flower buds and
fruits are mutually exclusive, and normally flower buds are much prized (Barbera and Di Lorenzo 1982). Pliny the Elder, in his Natural History, written in the 1st century A.D. described the
"seed" as a well-known article of food. The
pickled fruit are said to have a peppery flavor.
Capers are used in numerous recipes of the Italian cuisine: capers are an essential ingredient in
Pizza Napoletana and Pizza alla Siciliana. They
are also used in Salsa Verde for Spaghetti alla
Puttanesca, Galantina di Pollo, and Penne alla
Sorrentina (Galli 2001). Libya: Young flower
buds and fruits are pickled (Jafri 1977).
Uses in Medicine: Libya: The tea made with
the plant is used in Libya as a remedy for stomach ailments (E1-Gadi and Bshana 1986; Trotter
1915). It has been investigated for antitumor activity (Duke 2001).
7. CAPPARIS XSPINOSA L.
Common Names: Spain: (Arag6n): Tapara.
(Castilla): Alcaparra. (Catalufia): T~iperes. (Murcia): Tapenera, Tapena, Alcaparro, Caparro, T~i-
[VOL. 57
pano. Italy: Capparo, Cappari; (Sicilia): Chiappara. Portugal: Alcaparras, Alcaparreira.
France: C~prier (plant), C~pres (flower buds),
Cornichons (fruits) (Cazin 1868); (Provence):
Tapari6, Tapenir, Taperi6. (Toulouse): Capriai
(Reguis 1878; Rolland 1967).
Cultivation: It is rarely found in the wild,
which are populations escaped from cultivation.
The wild plants commonly referred as C. spinosa belong either to C. sicula or C. orientalis.
Italy: In the 1990s the Italian production was
concentrated on two volcanic islets in the vicinity of Sicily: Pantelleria in the Strait of Sicily
and Salina in the Tyrrhenian Sea, a total surface
of ca. 950 ha (Fici and Gianguzzi 1997). Root
cuttings are used on propagation on the Aeolian
archipelago (Italy) and in Mallorca (Spain).
When hybrids of this taxon are propagated by
seed, the resultant progeny are highly diverse. In
this case, the segregate types can be propagated
clonally by cuttings. Hybrid plants can be recognized by their parental combinations of leaf
shapes, and very often by the presence of different foliage colors, reddish, deep green, yellowish, etc. (Barbera and Di Lorenzo 1984; Rivera et al. 1999; Inocencio 2001). Spain: In
Campos, Felanitx, and Llub/, it has been cultivated extensively. During the last century
(1860s to 1960s), harvest of flower buds was an
almost exclusively a woman's task (Segura
1997).
Uses as Food: Flower buds, fruits, and, locally, tender young shoots (including immature
small leaves), pickled in brine or vinegar as a
condiment. European sources are the Balearic
Islands of Spain, Italy, and Provence in France
(Table 2).
Uses in Medicine: Capers are said to reduce
flatulence and to be anti-rheumatic (Alkire
2001). France: Flower buds and root bark are
used for cleansing the liver and the spleen, roots
are used as a tonic and a diuretic (Cazin 1868).
8. CAPPARIS OVATA DESF.
( = C. f o n t a n e s i i DC.)
This species is an African endemic which is
often erroneously cited from Italy and Spain
(Barbera and Di Lorenzo, 1984), because of
confusion with C. sicula Veill.
Common Names: Algeria: (Berber Temacheck) Talulut, Telulut, Telofilofit, Touloulout
(Benchelah et al. 2000; Chevalier 1938); (Arabic) Khabbar, Soukoum (Keith s.n., K; H. Du-
2003]
RIVERA ET AL.: FOOD AND MEDICINAL USES OF CAPPARIS
veyrier P 130676); Felfel-el-gebel (Biskra, Algeria) (Schweinfurth 1912). Chad: (Toubou):
Gozui, Gozou, Kozohou (H. Broo, 52 K; Chevalier 1938). Morocco: (Arabic) E1 Kabbar,
(Berber) Teililout, Teiloulout (N~gre 1961).
Uses as Food: Chad: The women of the Tibesti mountains harvest the fruit and mash them
with milk to make a gruel to consume as a food
(St. Serole 57, P 130669; Chevalier 1938); Fodder for gazella. Algeria: The Tuaregs of Tassili
region use only the flower buds as capers, the
Tuaregs of the Hoggar do not use the species
(Benchelah et al. 2000; Gast 2000).
Uses in Medicine: Algeria: According to
Maire (1933) it is used in the Hoggar as antiinflammatory, for headache, and for stomach
ache. Crushed leaves are used in the treatment
of "la gale des chameaux," and after boiling
they are applied for lumbago (Benchelah et al.
2000; Gast 2000). Morocco: In Tissint the powdered dry root is used for blenorhagy. A mixture
of caper fruits with leaves of Waronia saharae
Benth. and Coss. and olive oil is used for the
common cold. Boiled fruits alone or mixed with
Waronia are used for stomach ailments. In the
Sahara and Dra regions fruits and leaves, mixed
with Cleome arabica L. subsp, amblyocarpa and
olive oil, are used as anti-inflammatory ointments (Bellakhdar 1997)
9. CAPPARIS HEREROENSIS SCHINZ.
Common Names: unknown.
Uses as Fodder: It is eaten by mules and camels but horses do not do so (Watt and BreyerBrandwijk 1962).
Uses in Medicine: The root seems to be wellknown as poisonous in the Wankie district, Zimbabwe, Africa; the people sprinkle the powdered
root on meat to kill lions and leopards (Watt and
Breyer-Brandwijk 1962). Both of the uses mentioned above are doubtful because they are reported from the Wankie district of Zimbabwe;
this species is endemic to Namibia
10. CAPPARIS AEGYPTIA LAM.
( = C. spinosa L. vat. deserti Zohary)
Common Names: Egypt: (Arabic) Kabar,
Quabar, Lassaf, Latsst.ssaf, Shafellah (Rolland
1967; Schweinfurth 1912); (Coptic): Kemegeoc,
Kemapic. Iraq: (Diwaniya, Ba'quba, Southern
Marshes): Kabar; (Basra): Shafallah (Blakelock
and Townsend 1980).
Uses as Food: Egypt: The seeds are added to
523
wine to keep it sweet and are also used as a
condiment (Renfrew 1987). Iraq: Pickles are
made from fruits in Basra (Blakelock and Townsend 1980).
Uses in Medicine: Egypt: Powdered root bark
is mentioned by Prospero Alpino (16th century
A.D.) as a treatment for skin diseases, as a vermifugue, an antitummoral, and an emmenagogue
(Fenoyl 1980). In Egypt, it is used medicinally
by the Copts to treat wounds (Manniche 1989).
11. CAPPARISZOHARYI
INOCENCIO, D. RIVERA, OBON AND
ALCARAZ
Common Names: Spain: (Murcia) Alcaparra.
Morocco: Kabar. Syria: (Bedouin): Shefellah
(Rivera and Ob6n, MUB); (Aleppo) Hasiset elqebbar, Zaheg qabbar (plant), Qebbar (flower
buds), Qabbar (roots) (Honda, Miki and Saito
1990).
Cultivation: Most of the uses are reported
from material harvested from the wild populations, but the species is locally grown as crop
plant around Sail, Morocco (Table 1).
Uses as Food: Morocco: In the region of
Sail, the flower buds are harvested for pickling
and consumption (Inocencio 2001). They are exported to the European Union and other countries by industries of the Casablanca and Marrakech region (Lakrimi 2002). Syria: A jar containing flower buds and unripe fruits at Tell es
Sweyhat may indicate the use of caper pickles
in the Bronze Age (Zeist and Bakker-Heeres
1988).
Uses in Medicine: Mauritania: Cooked
leaves in a pomade are used on camels for treatment of skin diseases and external parasites
(Lehmann 2001). Syria: Campbell Thompson
(cited by Blakelock and Townsend 1980) recorded that dried leaves steeped in vinegar are
used in Syria for application to ulcers and scabs
of the head. Flower buds and roots are sold in
Aleppo for medicinal purposes (Honda, Miki
and Saito 1990). Rauwolff noted in Aleppo that
"such plenty of capers that they are not at all
esteemed" growing on old walls, the natives
pickling their flowers before they open (Campbell-Thompson 1949).
12. CAPPARIS ATLANTICA
INOCENC10, D. RIVERA, OBON AND
ALCARAZ
Common Names: Morocco: Kabar (Inocencio
2001).
524
ECONOMIC BOTANY
Uses as Food: Morocco: As a condiment,
flower buds and fruits are prepared pickled in
vinegar or brine. In the mountains of the High
Atlas, the flower buds are harvested for pickling
and consumption (Inocencio 2001). These are
exported to the European Union and other countries by industries of Marrakech region (Lakrimi
2002).
13. CAPPARIS PARVIFLORA BOISS.
SUBSP. PARVIFLORA
(= C. leucophylla DC. vat. parviflora
(Boiss.) Zohary)
Common Names: Iran: (Farsi): Mara Gira,
Mar Gir (Blakelock and Townsend 1980). Iraq:
(Kurdish): Halabja; (City of Kifri): Kabaruk,
(Blakelock and Townsend 1980).
Uses as Food: Iran: The fruits are eaten
(Blakelock and Townsend 1980).
Uses in Medicine: Iran: Persian healers use
boiled roots in olive or sesame oil and white
wine for spleen diseases associated with intermittent fever (Blakelock and Townsend 1980).
14. CAPPARIS PARVIFLORA BOISS.
SUBSP. KUROICA (ZOHARY)
INOCENCIO, D. RIVERA, OBON AND
ALCARAZ.
Common Names: lraq: (Kurdish) Halabja,
(Blakelock and Townsend 1980).
Uses as Food: Iraq: The fruits are eaten
(Blakelock and Townsend 1980).
15. CAPPARIS INERMIS FORSSKAL.
(= C. cartilaginea Decne., C. galeata
Fresen.)
Common Names: Egypt: (in Sinai): Arabic
names Felfel-jibbel, Goah, Goah-kulul, Latss.tssaf,
Lassaf (Schweinfurth 1912). Somalia: Goah,
Goah-Kulul, Goh, Gombor (Thulin 1993). Kenia:
Chepkogh, Chepteretwa, Gorra, Ilngorochi, Leachar, Lokapilak, Mtunguru, Mbaruti, Olatunde,
Qadhu (Beentje 1994; Dale and Greenway 1961;
Lehmann 2001). Iran: (Balouchistan) Gorilimbuk
Blatter (Parsa 1951). Saudi Arabia: Lassaf (BoyS,
K), Lusef (plant), 'Aslub, 'Albelib (fruit) (Ghanzafar 1994); Lfitssaf (South Arabia) (Schweinfurth
1912); Nutss~if (Hogela, South Arabia) (Schweinfurth 1912). India: Karat (Saurashtra K). Dhofar:
(Jibbali names): L6sef, Aselib (fruit). (Dhofari Arabic): Lfisfeh (plant), Albelib, Aslu~b (fruit)
(Miller and Morris 1988). Yemen: Lattssaf (Forss-
[VOL. 57
kill cited by Schweinfurth 1912); La~af, Ni~af
(Wood 1997).
Uses as Food: Egypt: The people of the Sinai
uses capers as a condiment, known as mountain
pepper. The fruit are eaten as food by the Bischarin and Kushmaan Bedouins. Dried fruits are
the main ingredient of a nutritious, spicy drink
called mariida, which can be kept in a waterskin
for 1 to 2 months (Goodman and Hobbs 1988).
Dhofar: The fruit is consumed for its sweet
pulp. The fruit, once ripened, turns a beautiful
scarlet; the flesh inside is sweet and delicious.
The bitter skin is discarded. The fruit is high in
vitamin C and contains significant amounts of
protein and carbohydrate. The foliage was traditionally an important fodder for livestock.
Sickly camels and goats were herded to areas
where these plants proliferated and were encouraged to browse the bushes. The severe bouts
of diarrhea that initially followed caused the animals to deteriorate in condition, but after a time,
their appetite returned and they grew fat and
sleek and their milk increased in quantity and
quality (Miller and Morris 1988). Somalia:
Fruits are eaten raw (Thulin 1993).
Uses in Medicine: Egypt: A poultice to combat rheumatism is made by cooking fruits with
salt and vegetable oil, letting the mash cool, and
then applying it to the painful area (Goodman
and Hobbs 1988). Oman: Water from boiled
leaves was used for washings after child-birth,
as a remedy for pains and as an antiseptic. Water, from boiling shoots and leaves, is employed
in the treatment of skin inflammation, bruises
and also as a remedy for pain and inflammation
in the case of snake bites. A paste is prepared
with the leaves and shoots and externally applied for inflammation in joints, sprains, muscular contractions, tendinitis, paralysis of the
body members, rheumatism, and problems of the
knees. An identical paste is used to the cure of
livestock infected with parasites and ticks. It is
used against ticks by making them come off by
applying to the wound the leaves or their juice,
when the tick is still in the skin (Miller and Morris 1988). Saudi Arabia: A decoction of leaves
and stems is used for bruises, childbirth, earache, headache, paralysis, snakebites, and swellings (Ghanzafar 1994). Kenia: A decoction of
leaves is used either in ocular bath or as eye
lotion for eye diseases for humans and cattle. A
decoction of leaves is used for indigestion.
Leaves, twigs, and stems are chewed for colics.
2003]
RIVERA ET AL.: FOOD AND MEDICINAL USES OF CAPPARIS
525
Fig. 3. Different grades and types of capers. (Photograph by C. Inocencio).
Juice of the root is used for dermatitis and skin
ulcers (Lehmann 2001). Tanzania: Crushed
stems and leaves are given in an infusion for
cattle fevers by the Masai (Lehmann 2001). Somalia: The leaves are chewed to treat coughs
(Thulin 1993). In this same area, dried leaves
mixed with wood ashes are used as a sort of
chewing compound; leaves are also used as a
medicine to cure the common cold in new born
goats. Around twenty leaves are blended with
water and then are crushed in a cup. This quantity is enough to treat two young goats. (Peck
226, K).
16. CAPPARI$ NAVAULENStS DC.
( = C. himalayensis Jafri).
Common Names: India: Karil (Collet 1902);
Kabra (Sundara 1993). P a k i s t a n : (Punjab):
Kakri, Kander, Kabra (Baquar 1989); (Sanskrit):
Kakadani; (Hindi or Hindustani and Punjabi)
Kabra (Nadkarni 1976).
Uses as Food: fruits and flower buds are used
as a condiment.
Uses in Medicine: India: According to Kakrani and Saluja (1994) in Kutch district, Gujarat
State, leaves are used as an antirheumatic. The
root bark is bitter, hot and dry; aperient, tonic,
expectorant, antihelminthic, emmenagogue, analgesic; good in treating rheumatism, paralysis,
toothache, tubercular lymphadenitis, and enlarged spleen (splenomegaly); the juice kills
worms in the ear (Yunani) (Kiritikar and Basu
1987). In Ormara and Las Bela, a jelly is prepared from fruits to cure rheumatism and snake
bites (Hughes- Buller cited by Kiritikar and
Basu 1987). Much juice is obtained from
crushed berries, but, if they are dry, a small
amount of water can be added, and the cold juice
is poured into the ear as a cure for ear-ache (Hotson cited by Kiritikar and Basu 1987). Pakistan:
Used in palsy, dropsy, gout and rheumatism
(Nadkarni 1976). Dried bark of the root is considered a diuretic. In Kangra (Punjab), macerated roots are applied to sores (Kiritikar and
Basu 1987).
17. CAPPARIS CORDIFOLIA LAM.
SUBSP. COROWOLtA ( = C. m a r i a n a DC.)
Common Names: Solomon Islands: (Island of
Santa Ana): Larafaku (R. Maurias 17218, K).
Archipelago of T u a m o t u (Island of Malekula):
Puapila (J. Florence 3034, K). (Niau): Tuipiropiro. Cook Islands (Mitiaro): Papiro (C. Luttrel
8, K). Fijl Islands (Islands of Rotuma and Mea-
526
ECONOMIC BOTANY
[VOL. 57
TABLE 3. COMMERCIAL GRADES OF CAPER FLOWER BUDS. DATA FROM BARBERA AND DI LORENZO
(1984); BACCARO (1978); CAPC (2001); LUNA AND P~REZ (1985). A PRIMmVE CLASSIFICATIONIN
"NOMPAREILLE, CAPUCINE, CAPOTE, SENCODE AND TROISIEME" IS GIVEN BY DUHAMEL ( 1 8 0 1 ) .
Diameters
(caliper)
0-7 mm
7-8 mm
8-9 mm
9-10 mm
10-11 mm
11-12 mm
12-13 mm
13-14 mm
14-15 mm
15-16 mm
1&more
Spain
commercial
. Spain
industry
Nonpareilles
Surfines
Capucines
Capotes
Capotes
Fines
Fines
Gruesas
Gruesas
Gruesas
Gruesas
C. •
Primeras
Segundas
Terceras
Cuartas
Cuartas
Quintas
Quintas
Gruesas
Gruesas
Gruesas
Gruesas
Italy
industry
Italy
commercial
and C. sicula
Grado 1
Capperini
Grado 2
Capperini
Grado 3
Capperini
Grado 4
Capperi
Grado 5
Capperi
Grado 6
Capperi
Grado 7
Capperi
Grado 8
Capperi
Grado 9
Capperi
Grado 10
Capperi
Grado 11
Capperoni
mea): Periro, Piriro (H. St. John 19366, BISH
615083). Hawaii: Maiapilo or Puapilo. Niue Island: Pamoko. Archipelago of the Marianas
(Island Cocos): Acparas, Acaparas, Atkaparas,
name of Spanish origin, (B.C. Stone s.n., BISH
135459); (Island of Guam): Alcaparra (W.E. SaCford and A. Seale 1108, US 516110). Islands
S a l o m r n (Venmauis): Nefuerrfuerr; (Vorfar,
Tisbel): Bangforrlam, (R. Maurias,17218, K).
Island of Nauru: Ekobobwija (A. Burge, 17, K).
Rurutu (Tubuai): Tiare-teina-mato. (Zepernick
1972)
Cultivation: It is generally used from the wild
but there are two references of material being
used from locally cultivated plants (Table 1).
Marianas: Formerly grown as a commercial
crop in Guam (Alkire 2001). Philippines: According to a specimen (Merrill 516, K), this species was introduced into the Philippines from the
island of Guam, being grown in the towns of
Forfiaque and Malab6n, near Manila, and perhaps elsewhere. According to Jacobs (1965), it
was introduced in the Pacific islands either by
the Spaniards or the Portuguese, from southern
Europe (citing erroneously Merrill 516, K). On
the island of Guam, an ancient colony of Spain,
the common names of Spanish origin are still
used. This species is not present in Europe nor
are any of the remaining taxa belonging to Section Galeatae. On morphological grounds the
nearest species is C. antanossarum Baillon, from
Madagascar.
Uses as Food." Marianas and Philippines:
Pickled flower buds are used as condiment.
France
Italy
(Pantelleria)
Nompareilles
Surfines
Capucines
Capotes
Fines
Grosses
Grosses
Grosses
Grosses
Grosses
Grosses
Piccoli
Medi
Medi
Grosso
Grosso
Grosso
Grosso
?
----
Uses in Medicine: Vanuatu: It has some unspecified medicinal uses in Vanuatu (P. Curry
1403, K).
18. CAPPARISCORDIFOLIA LAM.
SUBSP. SANDWICHIANA ( D E . )
INOCENCIO, D. RIVERA, OBON, AND
ALCARAZ ( = C. s a n d w i c h i a n a DC.)
Common Names: Island of Niue: Pamoko
(T.G. Yunker 10112, K). Archipel of Hawaii:
(island of Hawaii) Puapilo (G.O. Fagerlund,
A.L. Mitchell 885, K; Nagata 1971; Wagner,
Herbst and Sohmer 1990; Zepernick 1972),
Maiapilo (H. St. John 22463, US 2446980; Wagner, Herbst and Sohmer 1990; Zepernick 1972);
(island of Maui): Pilo (K. Livermore s.n., BISH
405983; Wagner, Herbst, and Sohmer 1990; Zepernick 1972). Archipelago of Tuamotu: (Island of Niau): Tupiropiro (J. Florence 10044, P
] 30657), Tufirofiro (Zepernick 1972).
Uses as Food." It is presumably consumed but
it was neither explicitly stated on the herbarium
labels nor in the literature.
Uses in Medicine: Hawaii: It is used to repair
broken bones, aching backs and muscles by the
akamai, the Hawaiian priest of herbal medicine
(Bornhorst 2000; Duke 2001; Nagata 1971; Zepernick 1972).
19. CAPPARISNUMMULARIA DC.
Common Names: Australia: (English) Wild
Passion Fruit, Flinders Rose, Split Arse, Split
Jack, and Nipan (Ronald de Fossard pers.
comm.); (tribal names): (Alyawarr) Arrwerneng,
2003]
RIVERA ET AL.: FOOD AND MEDICINAL USES OF CAPPARIS
527
Uses as Fodder: Fodder (Wewson 1982).
DISCUSSION
USES FROM THE WILD
Most of the traditional and commercial uses
of Capparis depend exclusively on the collections from the wild and thus fall within the category of Non-Wood Forest Products (NWFP) as
defined by the FAO. For instance, wild Capparis
accounts for 17% in the export of NWFP in Turkey (Koc, Aksu and Kurtoglu 2000).
CULTIVATION
Fig. 4. Industrial screening of capers in Fes, Morocco. (Photograph by C. lnocencio).
(Anmatyerr) Arratning, Arrweneng; (Eastern
Arrernte) Arrutnenge; (Western Arrernte) Ratninge; (Pintupi) Wraningi; (Warlpiri) Minkilyananga (Latz 1995); (Western Australia Territories): (the flowers) Bajalor or Bajala (W.A. Michell s.n., K).
Cultivation: All uses refer to wild populations. Australia: Jacobs (1965) cites that C.
nummularia is lacking in the earliest collections
of Australian plants; thus its introduction to Australia seems to have occurred before the definitive establishment of the British colony, somewhere in the Northwestern coast, extending later
towards central Australia and Queensland. The
only western taxon presumably ancestor to this
species is C. antanossarum Baillon from Madagascar, Aldabra, and Island Europe. But G.
Chippendale and Greenway (cited by Jacobs
1965) note that C. nummularia is a true native
in the central semi-arid areas of Australia, forming small patches, in the gorges of the mountains
and on river beds.
Uses as Food: Australia: Edible (A. C. Boyle
s.n., K). Ripe fruits of this shrub are harvested
by Australian aborigenes, who consume the pulp
(Ronald de Fossard pers. comm.; Latz 1995).
Cultivation has been only reported for C.
Xspinosa, C. orientalis, C. sicula, C. zoharyi
and C. cordifolia (Tables 1 and 2). Capparis
xspinosa is a hybrid C. sicula and C. orientalis.
The hybridization of these two species is frequent in the wild; there are many intermediate
types in cultivation. This hybridization produces
variable, sexually reproducing populations of
cross-pollinated plants. Mass selection is man's
oldest plant breeding method, it is also one of
the best plant breeding methods to enhance
germplasm and develop improved cultivars today. Most of the cultivars are within C. Xspinosa (Barbera and Di Lorenzo 1984; Rivera et
al. 1999). Due to proximity and entomophilous
pollination, gene flow between cultivated plants
and wild populations is high within the complex
C. Xspinosa, C. sicula, and C. orientalis (Barbera, Di Lorenzo and Barone 1991). Propagation
of the species mentioned above (specially C.
Xspinosa) can be result from both seed and rooted cuttings. In the first case, seeds gathered from
the dehiscent fruits when they have ripened towards the end of summer are sown at a depth
of a few centimeters in open field seedbeds in
the month of February. About 5% of these seeds
germinate in April or May, the other 95% are
unpredictable in germination, although some 5%
more germinate within the next year. The plants
obtained from seed are heterogeneous in terms
of leaf shape, thorns shape, and flower morphology; however, they are considered homogeneous enough for the purposes of quality and
quantity requirements of the crop. Therefore, it
is common to grow several strains together that
may be recognized as distinct by the farmers.
The seed propagation method is commonly used
on Pantelleria Island, Italy, for C. orientalis
'Nucciddara'.
The use of rooted cuttings is common in the
528
ECONOMIC BOTANY
[VOL. 57
Fig. 5. Commercial samples of pickled capers from Italy, Spain, Turkey, Morocco, and Greece. (Photograph
by C. Inocencio).
Aeolian archielago, Italy, and in Mallorca,
Spain, for C. Xspinosa cultivars. To obtain a satisfactory percentage of rooting, which is never
higher that 50%, it is necessary to take cuttings
at the moment of pruning, in February, March,
or April, from the most vigorous branches of a
diameter not less than 1.5 cm (Barbera and Di
Lorenzo 1984). Watering of the cuttings by submersion for one month is also done in Italy previous to planting (Baccaro 1978). In the XVIth
century De Serres (facsimile edition of 1996)
recognized cuttings as the best method for propagation of capers. Capers were widely grown in
Provence (France), especially in the region of
Toulon. Propagation by rooted cuttings or seeds
in autumn and protected in the winter with
mulch, was the usual practice (Cazin 1868).
In Italy, plants are spaced 2 to 2.5 meters
apart. Caper fields may have about 1500 to 2500
(3000) plants per hectare. Under Italian legislation, only 1500 are allowed for C. orientalis
'Nuciddara' fields on Pantelleria island. Seed-
grown plants or rooted cuttings may start producing flowers after their first to fourth years,
depending on the soil conditions and water
availability. The full yield is obtained after the
fourth year. Each year pruning takes place in
winter, to eliminate the dead wood and to reduce
the live branches to a length of 1 cm. Only the
first year branches flower. The cultivation, tillage, and fertilizing operations are carried out
regularly (Alkire 2001; Barbera and Di Lorenzo
1984; Cacette 1985; Lettieri 2001).
The average yield of flower bud per year is
ca. 1-1.5 kg for C. orientalis 'Nuciddara' on
Pantelleria and ca. 2-3 kg for C. Xspinosa and
C. sicula cultivars in Salina, Italy. The yield per
hectare reaches between 3 to 4 tons for for C.
Xspinosa and C. sicula cultivars and 2.2 tons
for C. orientalis 'Nuciddara' (Lettieri 2001).
Production spreads over a long period, beginning in May and lasting to the end of August.
There is a tendency to leave very short gaps of
time in-between each picking, as the best quality
2003]
RIVERA ET AL.: FOOD AND MEDICINAL USES OF CAPPAR1S
529
Fig. 6. Pickled unripe fruits of C. sicula from Spain (Photograph by D. Rivera).
flower buds are the smallest. There are about 9
to 12 harvests each season (Barbera and Di Lorenzo 1984).
COMMERCIAL USES
For commercial purposes, the grades of caper
are based on the bud diameter, ranging from 7
to 27 mm. The commercial names are nonpareilles, surfines, etc. (Table 3, Fig. 3). The smaller
grades are preferred. On Pantelleria, the largest
grade is for C. orientalis 'Nuciddara' is only 14
mm, with 60% below 12 mm, which justifies
that 'Nuciddara' capers are considered of best
quality (Barbera and Di Lorenzo 1982, 1984).
The average diameter is 9 mm (Lettieri 2001).
The differences in bud diameters mean results
in harvest difficulties. There are ca. 7000 flower
buds/kg of nonpareilles (Table 3), 4000 buds/kg
of surfines or capucines, ca. 2000 buds/kg of
cappottes, ca. 1300 buds/kg of fines, and only
ca. 800 buds/kg of grosses (Luna and Prrez
1985). It takes ten times more to harvest one
kilogram of the 7 mm grade than one kilogram
of the 14 mm grade. The flower buds are
screened through mesh and then classified by
sizes (Fig. 4). The different grades are processed
in brine (Fig. 1), and one month later vinegar is
added, or, alternatively, they are preserved in
salt. The salt procedure is preferred by gastronomists, as it is better at preserving the strong
flavor of the capers. The flower buds are covered
and mixed with sea salt at 40% of their crude
weight, inside wooden barrels and are kept for
ten days. The brine from the mixture of water
from the capers themselves and the sea salt helps
the maturation of capers (Lettieri 2001).
USES AS FOOD
Akgtil and C)zcan (1999) found that the seeds
of capers (C. sicula and C. Xspinosa) are rich
in protein, oil, and fibre. The high proportion of
unsaturated fatty acids suggests that they might
be valuable as food, and therefore, may have
been used as such in the past. Even though the
use as food of capers is restricted to pickled
flower buds (Fig. 5), unripe fruits (Fig. 6), and
530
ECONOMIC BOTANY
[VOL. 57
Fig. 7. Pickled young shoots of C. sicula from Spain (Photograph by D. Rivera).
shoots (Fig. 7) in modern times, it seems likely
that consumption of the ripe fruit, also with
sweet pulp, played a relevant role in ancient usage and in the beginning of the cultivation and
domestication of capers. This use is recorded for
fruits of C. sicula subsp, herbacea in Armenia
and Uzbekistan, C. sicula subsp, leucophylla in
Iraq, C. sicula subsp, sindiana in Pakistan and
India, C. ovata Desf. in Chad, C. parviflora
subsp, parviflora in Iran, C. parviflora subsp.
kurdica in Iraq, C. inermis in Egypt, Dhofar and
Somalia and C. nummularia DC. in Australia.
MEDICINAL USES
Medicinal uses of capers have been reported
at least since the 1st century A.D., in texts of
Dioscorides, Pliny, and others. Those are summarized in Table 4. The medicinal use, especially of caper roots and bark, persisted during
the Middle Ages, as confirmed by Celsius, Alexander of Tralles, The Antidotary of Cambridge, The Antidotary of Reichenau, Marcellus,
Oribassus, Celsus, Scribonius, Paul of Egina,
and others (Opsomer, 1989).
Capers are extremely rich in phenolic compounds as quercetin 3-rutinoside, kaempferol 3rutinoside, and kaempferol 3-rhamnosyl-rutinoside; free aglycones as quercetin and kaempferol
are produced during the brining process. Brining
extracts most of the kaempferol 3-rhamnosyl rutionside present in the original flower buds. A
10 g serving of capers will provide 30-160 mg
of flavonoid glycosides, at least the same
amount of quercetin as 100 g of onions yield
(Inocencio et al. 2000). Capers contain thioglucosides (known as glucosinolates) which release
isothiocyanates (mustard oils) when the plant is
crushed. Typically the plant yields methyl isothiocyanate from methyl glucosinolate, also
known as glucocapparin. These mustard oils are
responsible for the pungent flavor typical of capers (Capparaceae) and the mustard family (Cruciferae), but they also have skin irritant effects
and may also cause contact allergies (Mitchell
2003]
RIVERA ET AL.: FOOD AND MEDICINAL USES OF CAPPARIS
531
TABLE 4. MEDICINALUSES OF CAPERS IN GRECO-ROMAN CULTURES. DATA ACCORDINGTO DIOSCORIDES
AND PLINY (1ST. CENT. A.D.), AND PALLADIO(IVTH CENT. A.D.) (GUNTHER 1968; DESFONTAINES1829A,
1829B; MOURE 1990).
Uses
For the spleen
Good for the spleen, as emetic and
diuretic
Expels urine
Expels the bloody excrement
Expels the tape worms
Help the sciatica
Good for ruptures and convulsions
Drive out the menstrual discharge
Drives away the mucus from the head
For mouth ulcers
Cleanse ulcers
Analgesic for pained teeth
Takes away white vitiligo spots
Dissolve hardnesses
Kill the worms in the ears or as
analgesic for ear ache
To keep healthy the oxen
Those that daily eat capers are protected from palsey and spleen ache
It is not useful for stomach ache
Part of plant
Authors
Fruits, root bark
Root bark in wine
Dioscorides, Pliny
Pliny
Fruits, root bark
Fruits, root bark
The plant in vinegar and honey
Fruits, root bark
Fruits, root bark
Fruits, root bark
Fruits, root bark
Plant boiled in vinegar
Root bark and leaves with honey
Fruits, root bark chewed or seeds in vinegar
Frictions with bruised root bark
Roots and leaves
Roots and leaves boiled in oil
Dioscorides
Dioscorides
Pliny
Dioscorides, Pliny
Dioscorides
Dioscorides
Dioscorides
Pliny
Dioscorides, Pliny
Dioscorides, Pliny
Dioscorides, Pliny
Dioscorides
Dioscorides, Pliny
Bruised caper leaves, myrtle, and cypress
Flower buds
Palladio
Pliny
The plant
Pliny
1974). The following species have been reported
to contain glucosinolates (Ahmed et al. 1972):
C. aegyptia, C. inermis, C. sicula subsp, meso-
potamica, C. orientalis.
Khakberdyev et al. (1968) described experiments involving oral administration of a preparation of the root of C. sicula subsp, herbacea
to guinea pigs, prior to innoculation with a subcutaneous injection of various animal and plant
allergens to which the guinea pigs had been sensitized. In all cases, the animals treated with the
Capparis preparation suffered no ill effects but
untreated guinea pigs died of anaphylactic shock
(Schmidt 2001).
CONCLUSIONS
In this paper we have presented data concerning the uses and common names for the species
of Capparis subgenus Capparis the uses being
fundamentally alimentary or medicinal. Our interpretation of the data leads to the following
conclusions.
1. The general use of flower buds, fruits and
shoots, preserved in different ways (salt,
brine, vinegar), is as food. Capparis orientalis and C. •
are most commonly
used in commercial samples, but also C. zoharyi and C. sicula are relatively frequently
encountered.
2. Ripe fruits have been consumed for their
seeds and sweet pulp.
3. Medicinal uses involve mostly roots and
leaves, but fruits and flower buds are also
used. Some of the medical properties can be
related to phenolic compounds.
4. Capparis orientalis and C. •
are
grown from seeds or cuttings; other species
can be grown successfully from seeds.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We thank ~he staff of the herbaria and associated libraries B1SH, C, E,
G, HUB, HUJ, JEPS, K, INN, MA, MARSSJ, OXE P, RNG, RSA, and
US, for their help. We also thank Prof. De Frossard, the staff of AGRUCAPERS (Spain) and URCIMAR (Morocco), and the reviewers and editor of Economic Botany.
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