About Capparis tomentosa Lam.
Capparis tomentosa, commonly known as the woolly caper bush or African caper, is a species of plant in the Capparaceae family that is native to Africa. It grows in bushveld and forest habitats. Its distribution ranges from the Eastern Cape of South Africa, through KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo Province, Mozambique, Botswana and Namibia, and extends into tropical Africa. The northern end of its range reaches from Senegal to Eritrea, and the species also occurs in the Mascarene Islands. Across Africa, Capparis tomentosa has traditional medicinal and magical uses. It is used as a remedy for conditions including diarrhea, swelling and water retention. It is grown as a decorative garden plant, can be used for hedging, and works well as a security barrier due to its hooked spines. Its fruit is sometimes eaten by people. The alkaloid stachydrine has been identified as a component of this species.
