508 



DOMESTIC BOTANY. 



The Caper Family. 



(Capparidace^.) 



Trees, shrubs, ampelid climbers, frutlets, or herbs. Leaves 

 alternate, simple, trifoliate, or digitate. Flowers solitary, 

 spicate, or racemose. Sepals 4, distinct or united. Petals 

 4 or 8, equal or unequal. Stamens generally numerous. 

 Fruit fleshy, pod-like, or globose, sometimes berry-like, 

 borne on a gynophore. 



About 350 species are recorded of this family, which are 

 widely distributed, being chiefly tropical ; many of them pos 

 sess poisonous qualities. 



Caper {Capparis spinosa). A stiff prickly-branched shrub, 

 with simple deciduous leaves. It is a plant of the desert 

 throughout Western Asia, Egypt, Northern Africa, and 

 Southern Europe, growing in rocky places, and often seen 

 on old and ruined city walls. It is extensively cultivated in 

 France and other parts of the South of Europe for its flower- 

 buds, which are collected before expansion, and, preserved in 

 vinegar, form the capers of commerce. 



Capparis Sodada is a remarkable bush, occupying large 

 tracts of Central Africa, marking the transition from the 

 desert to the more fertile regions of the South, and prevail- 

 ing especially in Timbuctoo. The currant-like fruit is eaten 

 fresh as well as dried. The burnt stems yield a salt. 



Capparis fermginea. A narrow rusty -leaved shrub, native 

 of the West Indies. In Jamaica it is called the Mustard 

 shrub, its berries being pungent like mustard. 



CratcBua Tapia. A tree, from 20 to 30 feet high, native 

 of the West Indies. The fruit has a strong smell of garlic, 

 and it is therefore called the Garlic tree of Jamaica. 



THE MOONSEED AND VINE ALLIANCE. 

 The Moonseed Family. 



(Me NISPERMACE^ . ) 



■Climbing shrubs, generally twiners, rarely herbs. Leaves 

 alternate, entire or lobed. Flowers inconspicuous, usually 



