Jamaican caper facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jamaican caper
Scientific classification
Genus:	Capparis
Species:	cynophallophora

Capparis cynophallophora, commonly known as the Jamaican caper, is small tree in the caper family, Capparaceae, that is native to the Neotropical realm.

Description

The brand new leaves at the apical tips of twigs are folded in half showing only the whitish, hairy abaxial (lower or ventral) side of the leaf. The adexical (upper or dorsal) side of the leaf is glossy and darker. Fruits are long and split to release several large, brown seeds.

Habitat and range

The native range of C. cyanophallophora includes Florida in the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America as far south as northern Argentina. It inhabits mangrove forests, hammocks and shellmounds in coastal Florida and is extremely drought resistant

Detail of apical twig showing young leaf folded to reveal the hairy lower surface

Flower and flower buds

See also

In Spanish: Capparis cynophallophora para niños