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The species of July 2014

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Name: Alpine Caper Bush
Scientific name: Capparis spinosa var.canescens – Cosso
Family: Capparaceae                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Description
Semi-erect multi-branched shrub up to 1.5m tall. Leaves alternate, simple, ovate and with a small stem. Stem erythematous from the knees of which strong thorns come out with a crooked nose that looks opposite to the top.

Flowers white with purple hues. It blooms from May to August.

Habitat
It is found in dry fields, barren land, and rocky slopes up to 350m and is a common plant.

History – Spread – Name
The plant is estimated to come from the eastern regions of Central Asia. It thrives in Mediterranean countries such as Spain, France, Italy, Greece and Cyprus, but also in North African countries as far as the Sahara.

The name Capparis is a Latin name but a theory connects the name with the Greek language and in fact with Cyprus (Cyprus – Cappari) due to its great spread in it. The name spinosa refers to its strong thorns. But there are varieties without thorns.

Uses
Parts of tender shoots along with leaves and small fruits, are preserved in vinegar and salt and are used as a salad due to their spicy taste but also as an ingredient in fish sauces, meat, pizza, sausages, etc. along with other flavors such as bay leaf and oregano.  It is reported that in ancient times it was used by Greeks and Romans as a medicine for better functioning of the kidneys and liver and for the treatment of anemia, rheumatism and arthritis.

Sources:
[1] Βιβλίο «Αγριολούλουδα και άλλα φυτά της Κυπριακής γης» – Υπουργείο Γεωργίας, Φυσικών Πόρων και Περιβάλλοντος – Τμήμα Δασών

[2] http://gernot-katzers-spice-pages.com
[3] http://www.smgrowers.com

Image source:
© Σάββας Τρύφωνος – [email protected]  Ημερομηνία εγγραφής: 02/07/11

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