Capparis tomentosa Lam.

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Photo: Rob Burrett
Chegutu

Photo: Bart Wursten
Road nr 11 near Hippo House, Gorongosa National Park

Photo: Bart Wursten
Road 11 near Urema River, Gorongosa National Park

Photo: Bart Wursten
Mutirikwi Bridge near Triangle.

Photo: Petra Ballings
Along D3508 Kalimbeza road

Photo: Bart Wursten
Along D3508 Kalimbeza road

Photo: Mark Hyde
Camp by Turgwe River, Humani Ranch

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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms:
Common names:	Chikatavuwa (Shona) Gonashindi (Shona) Mukorongwe (Tonga: Zimbabwe) Umkanyengwe (Ndebele) Woolly caper-bush (English)
Frequency:	Frequent
Status:	Native
Description:	Mostly a robust woody climber but occasionally a shrub or small tree, armed with sharp, paired, hooked thorns. All young parts are densely velvety. Leaves alternate, oblong to broadly elliptic, grey-green, covered in velvet hairs; margins entire. Flowers quite showy, yellowish-green with a mass of long white or pinkish stamens. Fruit large, up to 4 cm, pink to orange when ripe. The fruits hang from a long stalk-like branch called a gynophore.
Notes:	The species is much used in traditional medicine.
Derivation of specific name:	tomentosa: tomentose, densely woolly
Habitat:	In woodland at lower altitudes, sometimes a liane; occurring at higher altitudes on termite mounds
Altitude range: (metres)	Up to 1380 m
Flowering time:	Aug - Nov
Worldwide distribution:	Widespread in tropical Africa and South Africa
Zimbabwe distribution:	N,W,C,E,S
Growth form(s):	Climber, liane, shrub over 2 m.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:	Eronia leda (Larval food plant)
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated:	Friday 1 July 2016
Literature:	Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 153. (Includes a picture). Coates Palgrave K. (revised and updated by Meg Coates Palgrave) (2002). Trees of Southern Africa 3rd edition. Struik, South Africa Page 223. Curtis, B.A. & Mannheimer, C.A. (2005). Tree Atlas of Namibia National Botanic Research Institute, Windhoek Page 91. Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 237. Heath, A. & Heath, R. (2009). Field Guide to the Plants of Northern Botswana including the Okavango Delta Kew Publishing Page 357. (Includes a picture). Mannheimer, C. & Curtis B. (2009). Le Roux and Müller's Field Guide to the Trees and Shrubs of Namibia Macmillan Education, Windhoek, Namibia. Pages 56 - 57. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 32. Pickering, H. & Roe, E. (2009). Wild Flowers of the Victoria Falls Area Helen Pickering, London Page 47. (Includes a picture). Roodt, V. (1998). Trees and Shrubs of the Okavango Delta Shell Field Guide Series: Part I Shell Oil Botswana, Gaberone. Pages 56 - 57. (Includes a picture). Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 44. Timberlake, J.R. & Childes, S.L. (2004). Biodiversity of the Four Corners Area: Technical Reviews Volume Two (Chapter 5-15) Appendix 5-1: Plant Checklist Occasional Publications in Biodiversity 15 Page 202. Wild, H. (1960). Capparaceae Flora Zambesiaca 1(1) Page 236.

Other sources of information about Capparis tomentosa:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Capparis tomentosa
Flora of Caprivi: Capparis tomentosa
Flora of Malawi: Capparis tomentosa
Flora of Mozambique: Capparis tomentosa
Flora of Zambia: Capparis tomentosa

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Capparis tomentosa
African Plant Database: Capparis tomentosa
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Capparis tomentosa
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Capparis tomentosa
ePIC (electronic Plant Information Center): Capparis tomentosa
Flora Zambesiaca web site: Capparis tomentosa
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Capparis tomentosa
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
GRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network): Capparis tomentosa
iNaturalist: Capparis tomentosa
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Capparis tomentosa
JSTOR Plant Science: Capparis tomentosa
Kew Herbarium catalogue: Capparis tomentosa
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Capparis tomentosa
Plants of the World Online: Capparis tomentosa
The Plant List (version 1.1): Capparis tomentosa
Tropicos: Capparis tomentosa
Wikipedia: Capparis tomentosa