G1 
Order. XLI. CAPPARIDACE^^L. The Caper Tribe. 
CAPPARiDEiE, /MW. Gen. 242. (1789); ^nn. Mmw 18. 474. (1811); DC. Prodr. 237. 
(1824). 
Essential Character. — Sepals, 4, either nearly distinct, equal, or unequal, or 
cohering in a tube, the limb of which is variable in form. Petals 4, cruciate, usually un- 
guiculate and unequal. Stamens almost perigynous, very seldom tetradynamous, most fre- 
quently arranged in some high multiple of a quaternary number, definite or indefinite. Disk 
hemispherical, or elongated, after bearing glands. Ovary stalked ; style none, or filiform. 
Fruit either podshaped and dehiscent, or baccate, 1 -celled, very rarely 1 -seeded, most fre- 
quently with 2 polyspermous placentae. Seeds generally reniform, without albumen, but 
with the lining of the testa tumid, attached to the margin of the valves ; embryo incurved ; 
cotyledons foliaceous, flattish. — Herbaceous plants, shrubs, or even trees, without true sti- 
pules, but sometimes with spines in their place. Leaves alternate, stalked, undivided, or 
palmate. Flowers in no particular arrangement. 
Anomalies. Some species of Niebuhria, Maerua, Boscia, Cadaba, and Thylacium, have 
no petals. The stamens are occasionally tetradynamous, according to De Candolle. 
Affinities. Distinguished from Cruciferse by their stamens being often 
indefinite, if definite never tetradynamous, or scarcely ever, and by their reni- 
form seeds. They are related to Passifloracese in their stipitate ovary, and 
fleshy indehiscent fruit with parietal polyspermous placentae ; and to Fla- 
courtiaceae in the structure of their fruit, parietal placentae, and indefinite sta- 
mens ; from these last they are known by their narrow placentae, exalbumi- 
nous seeds and peculiar habit ; and from the former by a number of ob- 
vious characters. Brown remarks {Denham, 15,) that some species of Capparis, 
of which C. spinosa is an example, have as many as 8 placentae. Aug. de St. 
Hilaire and Moquin Tandon state that Capparidaceae are referable to a tetran- 
drous type, which is very possible. But the explanation they give, or the 
proofs thev offer of this are less clear than could be desfred. (See Ann. des. 
Sc. 20. 321). 
Geography. They are chiefly found in the tropics and in the countries 
bordering upon them, where they abound in almost every direction. Of the 
capsular species, a single one, Cleome violacea, is found in Portugal ; another, 
Polanisia graveolens, occurs as far to the north as Canada ; and one or two 
others are met with in the southern provinces of the United States. Of the 
fleshy-fruited kinds, the common Caper, Capparis spinosa, a native of the most 
southern parts of Europe, is that which approaches the nearest to the north ; 
Africa abounds in them. 
Properties. De Candolle compares Capparidaceae with Cruciferae in re- 
gard to their sensible qualities ; and they no doubt resemble each other in 
many respects ; for instance, the flower-buds of the Caper are stimulant, an- 
tiscorbutic, and aperient, and form a well known pickle ; the bark of the root 
of the Caper passes for a dim'etic ; and some species of Cleome and Polanisia 
have a pungent taste, like that of mustard. The root of Cleome dodecandra is 
used as a vermifuge in the United States. Cleome icosandra acts as a vesica- 
tory, and is used in Cochin China as a sinapism. Dancer states that the bark 
of the root of Cratseva gynandra blisters Hke Cantharides. Ainslie, 2. 88. 
There is a plant called Fruta de Burro, found in the neighbourhood of Cartha- 
gena, the fruit of which is extremely poisonous. It is supposed to be a spe^ 
cies of Capparis, nearly allied to the Capp. pulcherrima of Jacquin ; and must 
not be confounded with the Fruta del Burro of Humboldt, found in Guiana, 
which is a valuable medicinal plant, belonging to Anonacese. 
