274 CAPPARIDE^. [part ii. 



ORDER XVI.— CAPPARIDEiE.— THE CAPER TRIBE. 

 This order is divided into two sections, viz., 

 the true Capers, and the Cleomes ; both of 

 which have very long and conspicuous stamens. 

 The common Ca,i^er (Capparis spinosa) has a large 

 and handsome flower, with a distinct calyx and 

 corolla, both in four parts. The petals are 

 white, and so delicate in their texture as to 

 fade in a few hours if exposed to the sun ; and 

 the stamens, which are very numerous, have 

 rich purple filaments. In the centre is the 

 pistil, with a very long stalk, and the ovary 

 at the point, instead of at the base, with no 

 style, and a very small stigma. In conse- 

 quence of this curious construction, the seed- 

 pod, which is fleshy, and hangs downwards, 

 appears to be on a much longer stalk than the 

 flower. The shrub is spiny, and in its natural 

 habitat it grows among stones and rocks. It is 

 the unopened flower-buds that are pickled. The 

 genus Cleome consists principally of annuals, 

 with very handsome flowers, which have very 

 long stamens, and a pistil of the same construc- 

 tion as in Capparis, but the fruit is a dry cap- 

 sule. The anthers of the stamens are often 

 enfolded in the flowers before they are fully 

 expanded, so that the filaments appear bent, 

 till at last they open fully and hang down. 



