Capparis decidua

taxobox
name = "Capparis decidua"


status = NE
status_system = iucn3.1
regnum = Plantae
unranked_divisio = Angiosperms
unranked_classis = Eudicots
unranked_ordo = Rosids
ordo = Brassicales
familia = Capparaceae
genus = "Capparis"
species = "C. decidua"
binomial = "Capparis decidua"
binomial_authority = (Forssk.) Edgew.
synonyms = "Capparis aphylla"|

"Capparis decidua" is commonly known as "karir", "kair", "kirir", "karril", etc ( _hi. करीर or कैर). It is a small much branched tree or shrub of the Thar desert and other arid regions in southern Asia with a mass of slender, leafless branches, the small caducous leaves being found only on young shoots. It rarely exceeds a height of 5 meters (15 feet).

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.

This is a useful plant in its marginal habitat. 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. "Capparis decidua" can be used in landscape gardening, afforestation and reforestation in semidesert and desert areas; it provides assistance against soil erosion [Kaul (1963), Ghosh (1977)] .

Footnotes

References

* (1963): Need for afforestation in the arid zones of India. "LA-YAARAN" 13.
* (1977): "Handbook on afforestation techniques". Dehra Dun.
* (1975): "Environmental analysis of the Thar Desert". Dehra Dun.