Illustrations of Indian Botany, Vol. 1/Capparideae
XII.-CAPPARIDEAE.
The Capparideae are chiefly a tropical family of herbaceous or fruticose plants, many of the latter climbing extensively, but not twining, having alternate, simple, and stipulate leaves, or compound and ex-stipulate ones, the stipules when present spinous. The flowers are pedicelled, either solitary or racemose, hermaphrodite, or rarely, by abortion, unisexual.
Calyx 4-sepaled, either partially united at the base, and 4-lobed, as in Niebuhria, or altogether free and imbricated in cestivation. The torus often occupies a conspicuous place in this order; sometimes, though rarely, it is even with the bottom of the calyx, more frequently it is free and elongated, together with thecaphore, elevating the ovary far above the calyx, on a filiform stalk or pedicel; or it is lateral, tubular, funnel-shaped, and netariferous, (forming the nectary of authors) bearing the thecaphore at its base : as in Cadaba. Petals 4, alternate with the lobes of the calyx, often with a long claw, as in Cadaba, deciduous. The stamens vary much in number and situation; sometimes there are only 4, as Cadaba; oftener very numerous, sometimes appearing to spring from the middle of the stalk of the ovary, as in Gynandropsis, oftener springing from the bottom of the calyx, and either altogether free, or united for a short distance round the torus. Ovary usually stalked, 1-celled with parietal placentae, style filiform or wanting. Fruit pod-shaped, or baccate, 1-celled, with numerous, rarely few, seeds : seeds generally reniform, exalbuminous, with a thickened testa, foliacious cotyledons, and a curved embryo.
Affinities. The herbaceous forms of Capparidece, are allied to Cruciferae by habit, by their quaternary sepals and petals, and some of them by their hexandrous stamens, which however are never truly tetradynamous; more generally the stamens are indefinite, and the seeds reniform, which form the principal marks of distinction between Cruciferae and the herbaceous section of Capparideae. The fruticose section is less likely to be confounded, the difference of habit forming of itself a good distinction. The stipitate ovary, so common in this order, is also met with in Passifloreae, combined with indehiscent fruit and parietal polyspermous placentae, but readily distinguished by other marks. The structure of the fruit and indefinite stamens associate them with Flacourtianeae, from which, however, they are distinguished by their exalbuminous seed and different habit. With Resedaceae they agree in having parietal placentas, and reniform exalbuminous seed, but are separated by the different arrangement of their flowers.
Essential Character. Polypetalous, polyandrous, dicotyledons, with versatile anthers, the ovary wholly superior, and the carpels combined into a solid fruit, with more placentaes than one. Leaves alternate, ex-stipulate, or with spines in their place. Cadaba has 4; Cleome and Gynandropsis 6 stamens.
Geographical Distribution. This large order is nearly confined to the tropics, abounding in Asia, Africa, and America. They are more sparingly met with in New Holland, and two or three species are natives of Europe : among the latter, ranks the best known one of the order, the caper-bush, (Capparis spinosia) much cultivated in the south of Europe, on account of its flower-buds which, when pickled, become the much esteemed caper of commerce. Some of the herbaceous forms, are very widely distributed over the world, being found in Asia, Africa, and America. The shruby forms are more limited in their range, the species being usually confined to one of these countries. Some however, are, I believe, common to Asia and Africa. In India the Capparideae are numerous, not only with reference to the number of species, but still more so with regard to individuals. Some of the herbaceous ones are our most common weeds, met with in every field, others occur in every piece of waste ground or neglected spot. Some of those belonging to the shruby subdivision of the order, are nearly equally common, such is the case with Capparis horrida, the rather handsome flowers of which, are at this season to be seen decorating almost every hedge. Cadaba Indica is very generally met with among rubbish, and almost every dilapidated Pagoda in the country, is more or less overgrown with this plant. It is also frequent in villages about ruinous mud walls. Of Capparis sepiaria and incanescens , I have seen whole jungles, and these of the most impenetrable kind, when thick, owing to their numerous sharp replexed thorns. In some situations the species of Crataeva, are nearly equally abundant, and when in flower, infinitely more ornamental, each branch terminating in large clusters of showy flowers. 1 have only however seen it attaining this degree of perfection near tanks or water courses, where the soil was rich and moist. They are however handsome plants in all situations.
Properties and Uses. The many points of affinity in structure between this order and Cruciferae, have been already adverted to. In their properties they are equally allied, having like them an acrid volatile principle, highly stimulating and irritating when applied to the skin. The roots of the caper bush are stimulating and diuretic, like those of so many of the Cruciferae, and the flower buds of Capparis spinosa (capers) are much esteemed in the south of Europe, where they grow, as an antiscorbutic. Some species of Cleome have an acrid taste, which has been compared, by many, to mustard. The leaves and succulent stems of Polanesia ( cleome ) icosandra, applied to the skin, excite inflammation, and are sometimes employed as a sinapism : in this country, the seed are administered as a carminative and vermifuge. The leaves of Gynandropsis ( cleome ) pentaphylla bruised, and applied to the skin, act as a rubefacient, and produce very abundant serous exudation, affording in many cases the relief derived CAPPARIDEÆ.jpg)
CAPPARIS FLORIBUNDA. (R.W.)
from a blister, without its inconveniences. This freedom from inconvenience is not however always experienced. I once saw extensive vesication produced by the application of the leaves of this plant, as a discutient, to an incipient boil. The previously existing inflammation of the skin probably gave rise to this excessive action. The root of Crataeva gynandra, a Jamaica plant, is said to blister like Cantharides. Dr. Ainslie in his Materia Medica, mentions six species of this order, as being employed in medical practice, but upon the whole gives very little information regarding them.
Remarks on Genera and Species. Roxburgh was acquainted with but a small number of the Indian species of this order, amounting in all to only 13, and these he distributed under three genera, viz. Cleome, Strcemia, and Capparis. The two first, most unaccountably, placed respectively in tetradynamea, and pentandria digynia : whether through errors of his Editors, or by his own arrangement I am unable to say. Dr. Wallich, (List of Indian plants) has greatly augmented the catalogue, which now extends to 42 species. DeCandolle, in his Prodromus, revised the genera, and by adopting the views of those who had previously subdivided the old genus Cleome, into three distinct genera, rendered the determination of species much easier, by making the genera themselves more natural. Of those having long pedicelled ovaries, with 6 long stamens, apparently springing from above the middle of the pedicel, he formed the genus Gynandropsis. Those having numerous stamens, and a nearly sessile ovary, now form the genus Polauesia : while all those having 6 stamens and a subsessile ovary, are retained to form the present genus Cleome. The Peninsular flora, presents examples of each of these forms. Cadaba as being an older name was substituted by DeCandolle for Strcemia. The species of the genus Capparis, (of Roxburgh's Fl. Ind.) are also distributed among three distinct genera, viz. Capparis, Cratceva, and Niebuhiia. Capparis and Cratceva are both Linnaean genera, more readily distinguished by habit, and foliage, than by characters taken from the inflorescence. In Cratceva the petals are furnished with a slender claw, expanding above into a broad limb, and the leaves are 3 foliolate : while in Capparis, the petals are sessile, and the leaves simple, often with spinous stipules. Niebiihria is distinguished from both, by the sepals being united at the base, the petals wanting or shorter than the calyx, and by the elongated, irregularly torulose fruit, caused by the seed bulging out the sides of the berry, on either side of a rigid central placenta. Judging from the figures, as well as the description given of the genus Moerua in the Flora SenigambiaB, it appears, that JYiebuhria is identical with that genus, and hence Moerua, being the older name of the two, must necessarily be adapted, on the ground of priority. Since my return to India in 1S34, the following species have been added to Capparis.
CAPPARIS.
1 C. floribunda. (R. W.) Shrubby unarmed: leaves oval oblong, obtuse at both ends, glabrous: flowers numerous, umbelled; umbels axillary, numerous near the ends of the branches, and forming, through the abortion of the leaves, large terminal panicles: pedicels glabrous; calyx and petals ciliale on the margine: stamens eight, much longer than the petals and pedicel of the ovary: ovules several, pendulous, berry few, (1-3) seeded.
Apparently a beautiful shrub, which, however, I have not myself seen, the drawing from which the figure is taken, having been made by the draughtsman in the course of an excursion he made unaccompanied by me. The figure is defective, in so far as not distinctly showing the pedicelled ovaries in the flowers generally.
C. Moonii. (R.W.) Shrubby, diffuse, scandent, armed with short reflexed stipulary thorns: leaves oval, or a little broader below, mucronate at the apex, racemes terminal, leafless, corymbiform, pedicels I-flowered —flowers very large.
C. grandis ?-Moon. Cat. Ceylon Plants.
This species I found in Ceylon usually among clumps of jungle, in moist or even marshy soil. In such situations its large pure white flowers render it a very conspicuous object, and are seen from a great distance. It seems very nearly allied to C. Roxburgii, but judging from the description, and still more from specimens of what I consider his plant, is I think disctinct. The leaves in this are nearly an exact oval, with an abrupt somewhat retuse mucro. The flowers which are white, nearly six inches across the filaments cf the stamens, alone sometimes exceeding three inches in length. The fruit I have not seen.
EXPLANATION OF PLATE 14.
1. Flowering branch of Capparis floribunda.
2. Flower detached, showing the sepals, petals, stamens and ovary.
3. Ovary laid open, showing the pendulous ovules,
4. Anther—all magnified. 5. Fruit.
6. Cut transversely, showing a single seed—natural size. J. Seed removed—natural size. 8. the same, cut vertically, showing the large embryo.
9. Embryo removed, showing its curved form and radical pointing to the hilum.