Capparis shanesiana
F. Muell.
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Bruce McLennan, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Bruce McLennan
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Bruce McLennan, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Description
A small spreading shrub. It grows 1-3 m high and 1-4 m wide. The bark is pale grey, hard and deeply cracked. It is a neat shrub with a rounded, dense, green crown. The young shoots have long yellow hairs. The stems have thorns which curve backwards. The leaves are 6-10 cm long by 2-4 cm wide. They are sword shaped, thick and leathery. They are hairy underneath. The flowers are 7-8 cm across. They are white with pink stamens. The fruit is a berry 4-5 cm across. It is round and wrinkled. The fruit pulp is edible.
Edible Uses
The fruit pulp is edible.
Distribution
A tropical plant. It grows in inland areas of central Queensland. It grows in open savannah type woodland.
Where It Grows
Australia*,
Cultivation
Plants are grown from seed.
Notes
There are about 250 Capparis species. There are about 50 Capparis species in tropical America.
References (2)
- Elliot, W.R., & Jones, D.L., 1982, Encyclopedia of Australian Plants suitable for cultivation. Vol 2. Lothian. p 460
- Flora of Australia, Volume 8, Lecythidales to Batales, Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra (1982) p 218
