Capparis decidua

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Capparis decidua
Kair.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Brassicales
Family: Capparaceae
Genus: Capparis
Species:
C. decidua
Binomial name
Capparis decidua
Synonyms [2]
  • Capparis aphyllaRoth
  • Capparis deciduaPax
  • Capparis sodadaR.Br. nom. illeg.
  • Sodada deciduaForssk.

Capparis decidua, commonly known as karira, [3] is a useful plant in its marginal habitat.

Contents

Description

It is a small much-branched tree or shrub. It bears a mass of slender, gray-green leafless branches, the small caducous leaves being found only on young shoots. [4] It rarely exceeds a height of 5 metres (16 feet). [5]

The new flush of leaves appears in November–January. Red conspicuous flowers appear in March to April and August–September and ripe by May and October. The pink fleshy berries are readily eaten by birds. It coppices well and produces root suckers freely. It is extremely drought-resistant and tolerates some frost. [5]

Distribution and habitat

It can be found in arid regions in North Africa, the Middle East, [4] and South Asia, including the Thar desert.

Khair city in Uttar Pradesh, India is famous for Kair trees.[ citation needed ]

Uses

Vegetable dish known as Kairan (or Doran) ji Bhaaji prepared in Tharparkar, Sindh Kairan (or Doran) ji Bhaaji.jpg
Vegetable dish known as Kairan (or Doran) ji Bhaaji prepared in Tharparkar, Sindh

The fruit and young buds can be eaten raw. [4]

Its spicy fruits are used for preparing vegetables, curry and fine pickles and can attract helpful insectivores; the plant also is used in folk medicine and herbalism. It can be used in landscape gardening, afforestation and reforestation in semidesert and desert areas; it provides assistance against soil erosion. [6]

References

  1. Oldfield, S. (2023) [amended version of 2020 assessment]. "Capparis decidua". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2023: e.T19289281A240727434. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T19289281A240727434.en .
  2. The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species , retrieved 4 June 2016
  3. USDA GRIN Taxonomy , retrieved 4 June 2016
  4. 1 2 3 The Complete Guide to Edible Wild Plants. United States Department of the Army. New York: Skyhorse Publishing. 2009. p. 112. ISBN   978-1-60239-692-0. OCLC   277203364.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  5. 1 2 Burdak, L.R. (1982). Recent Advances in Desert Afforestation- Dissertation submitted to Shri R.N. Kaul, Director, Forestry Research, F.R.I., Dehra Dun. p. 55
  6. Kaul (1963), Ghosh (1977)

Sources