Jamaican caper facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jamaican caper
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Brassicales
Family:	Capparaceae
Genus:	Capparis
Species:	C. cynophallophora
Binomial name
Capparis cynophallophora L.
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The Jamaican caper (scientific name: Capparis cynophallophora) is a small tree. It belongs to the caper family, called Capparaceae. This tree grows naturally in warm, tropical parts of the Americas.

What Does the Jamaican Caper Look Like?

The young leaves at the very ends of the branches are folded in half. This shows their underside, which is whitish and a bit fuzzy. The top side of the leaf is shiny and darker.

When the Jamaican caper produces fruit, they are long pods. These pods split open to release several large, brown seeds.

A close-up of a young leaf, folded to show its fuzzy underside.

A Jamaican caper flower and its buds.

Where Does the Jamaican Caper Grow?

The Jamaican caper grows naturally in many places. You can find it in Florida in the United States, Mexico, and across the Caribbean islands. It also grows in Central America and in South America, reaching as far south as northern Argentina.

This tree often lives in mangrove forests and hammocks near the coast. It can also be found on old shellmounds in Florida. The Jamaican caper is very tough and can survive long periods without much water. This means it is extremely resistant to drought.

See also

In Spanish: Capparis cynophallophora para niños