2^ CAPPARIDACEAE 



The root of Capparis oleoides (witstam), is sweetish and 



used by the colonists as a substitute for coffee. (Fig. 105.) 



Some species of Capparis and of the Dearly allied 

 genus Boscia form dwarf trees in the central and northern 

 districts (Fig. 105). Boscia bears a profusion of small, greenish 

 Bowers, and those of B. foetida (stink bush) emit a very evil 

 odour. The fruit is nearly globular, its pulp sweetish and 

 oily, but the seeds contain a pungent principle. Nati\<^ 

 often use the pulp as food. 



The young foliage of Capparis is often devoured by 

 the caterpillars of Picris mese7itina (Plate 47), a butterfly very 

 similar to the common European Picris brassicac i:: \ 



Several species of Cleome and Pola?iisia, e.g. P. latca, 

 produce showy spikes of flowers and are cultivated in 

 European gardens but rarely here. 



Capparis hereroeusis is one of the few plants capable 

 of existing on the sand dunes of the western litoral 

 (Namib), but only in the neighbourhood of underground 

 watercourses, even if the water should be brackish and at 

 a considerable depth. In its power to thrive under such 

 extreme conditions it resembles the naras {Aca/ithosycios 

 horridd), but unlike this it possesses bright green leaves 

 and consequently attracts the eye of the traveller from a 

 distance. The pale yellow flowers are an inch in diameter, 

 and the fruits resemble small melons. Mules and camels 

 feed on it, but horses cannot do so. 



An unusual mode of raising itself above the surrounding hushes is adopted 

 by Capparis Gueinz.il (CafFraria, Natal). The robust, upright main-shoots 

 produce, at certain intervals, two opposite branches which gradually curve 

 round towards each other until the)' meet, thus embracing any shrub or tree 

 that might be near by. The growth of these arms stops when the)' meet, ami 

 the pair next above them repeats the process. The species is consequently an 

 "embracing scrambler." (From information by Dr V . C. Koi.m:.) 



* The larvae of the various species of Pin is generally feed on plants of the family 

 Cruciferae and Capparidaceae, probably on account of some compounds of ally] and 

 sulphur which these plants contain. 



