Editing Caper (section)

{{Short description|Species of plant (Capparis spinosa)}}
{{Other uses|Caper (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Speciesbox
|name = ''Capparis spinosa''
|image = Illustration Capparis spinosa0.jpg
|image_caption = Illustration by [[Otto Wilhelm Thomé]]
|genus = Capparis
|species = spinosa
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name=iucn>Rankou, H., M'Sou, S., Diarra, A. & Ait Babahmad, R.A. 2020. ''Capparis spinosa''. [[The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species]] 2020: e.T137745831A139593491. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-1.RLTS.T137745831A139593491.en. Downloaded on 24 September 2021.</ref>
|authority = [[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], 1753
|synonyms_ref = <ref>[http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/gcc-128727 The Plant List, ''Capparis spinosa'' L]</ref>
|synonyms = {{collapsible list|bullets = true
|title=<small>Synonymy</small>
|''[[Blumea grandiflora]]'' <small>Zipp. ex Span.</small>
|''[[Capparis aculeata]]'' <small>Steud.</small>
|''[[Capparis microphylla]]'' <small>Ledeb.</small>
|''[[Capparis murrayi]]'' <small>Stewart ex Dalz.</small>
|''[[Capparis ovalis]]'' <small>Risso</small>
|''[[Capparis ovata]]'' <small>Desf.</small>
|''[[Capparis peduncularis]]'' <small>C.Presl</small>
|''[[Capparis sativa]]'' <small>Pers.</small>}}
}}
[[File:میوه لگچی در بهبهان.jpg|alt=Capparis spinosa fruit in Behbahan|thumb|''Capparis spinosa'' fruits in [[Behbahan]]]]

'''''Capparis spinosa''''', the '''caper bush''', also called '''Flinders rose''',<ref>{{GRIN | access-date = 11 December 2017}}</ref> is a [[perennial]] plant that bears rounded, fleshy leaves and large white to pinkish-white flowers.<ref>[http://luirig.altervista.org/flora/taxa/index1.php?scientific-name=capparis+spinosa Altervista Flora Italiana, Cappero, Kapernstrauch, ''Capparis spinosa'' L.] includes photos and European distribution map</ref><ref>[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200009171 Flora of China, {{lang|zh|山柑}} shan gan, ''Capparis spinosa'' Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 503. 1753. ]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://id.biodiversity.org.au/node/apni/7446788|title=''Capparis spinosa'' L.|author=<!--Not stated--> |website=Atlas of Living Australia}}</ref>

The taxonomic status of the species is controversial and unsettled. Species within the genus ''Capparis'' are highly variable, and [[interspecific hybrids]] have been common throughout the evolutionary history of the genus. As a result, some authors have considered ''C.&nbsp;spinosa'' to be composed of multiple distinct species,<ref>Zohary, M. (1960). "The species of ''Capparis'' in the Mediterranean and the Near Eastern Countries." ''Bulletin of the Research Council of Israel,'' Section D, Botany '''8'''(2): 49-64</ref> others that the taxon is a single species with multiple varieties or subspecies,<ref>{{cite journal |author=Jacobs, M. |date=1965 |title=The genus ''Capparis'' (Capparaceae) from the Indus to the Pacific |url=http://www.repository.naturalis.nl/document/565512 |journal=Blumea |volume=12 |pages=385–541}}</ref><ref>Heywood V.H. (1993). "Flowering plants of the world." Oxford University Press, New York</ref> or that the taxon ''C.&nbsp;spinosa'' is a hybrid between ''C.&nbsp;orientalis'' and ''C.&nbsp;sicula''.<ref name="295–313">D. Rivera, C. Inocencio, C. Obón, E. Carreño, A. Reales, F. Alcaraz. (2002). "Archaeobotany of capers (''Capparis'') (Capparaceae)." ''Vegetation History and Archaeobotany.'' '''11'''(4): 295–313</ref>

''Capparis spinosa'' is native to almost all the [[Mediterranean Basin|circum-Mediterranean countries]],<ref name="Fici">{{cite journal |last=Fici |first=S. |date=2001 |title=Intraspecific variation and evolutionary trends in ''Capparis spinosa'' L. (Capparaceae) |journal=Plant Systematics and Evolution |volume=228 |issue=3–4 |pages=123–141 |bibcode=2001PSyEv.228..123F |doi=10.1007/s006060170024 |s2cid=8713605}}<!--|access-date = 2006-11-21--></ref> and is included in the flora of most of them, but whether it is [[Indigenous (ecology)|indigenous]] to this region is uncertain. The family [[Capparaceae]] could have originated in the tropics and later spread to the Mediterranean basin.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Pugnaire de Iraola |first=F.I. |year=1989 |title=Nota sobre las ''Capparaceae'' ibéricas |journal=Blancoana |volume=7 |pages=121–122}}</ref>

The plant is best known for the edible flower buds ('''capers'''), used as a seasoning or garnish, and the fruit ('''caper berries'''), both of which are usually consumed [[Salting (food)|salted]] or [[pickled]]. Other species of ''Capparis'' are also picked along with ''C.&nbsp;spinosa'' for their buds or fruits. Other parts of ''Capparis'' plants are used in the manufacture of medicines and cosmetics.