Capparis decidua
Species of tree
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Capparis decidua, commonly known as karira,[3] is a useful plant in its marginal habitat.
| Capparis decidua | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| 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] | |
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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]
Tree without fruits
Flower on branch
Flowers
Tree with fruits
Unripe fruits on the tree
Unripe fruits
Ripe fruits
Tawny eagle perched on tree
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
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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]