Wild passionfruit facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wild passionfruit |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Brassicales |
| Family: | Capparaceae |
| Genus: | Capparis |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: |
C. s. subsp. nummularia
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| Trinomial name | |
| Capparis spinosa subsp. nummularia (DC.) Fici
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The wild passionfruit is a special plant that grows naturally in Australia. Its scientific name is Capparis spinosa subsp. nummularia. It is a type of caper plant, but it has adapted to live in the hot, dry deserts of Australia. People sometimes call it a caperbush.
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What is Wild Passionfruit?
The wild passionfruit is a native Australian plant. It is a subspecies, which means it's a specific type of a larger plant group. In this case, it's a desert-adapted version of the common caper plant.
Its Name in Arrernte
In Central Australia, the Arrernte language is spoken by the Arrernte people. They have their own name for this plant: Merne arrutnenge. This shows how important the plant is to the local culture.
A Special Bush Tucker Food
Wild passionfruit is known as a tasty bush tucker food. Bush tucker refers to the native foods traditionally eaten by Australian Aboriginal people.
How to Eat It
When the wild passionfruit is ready to eat, its skin turns a bright orange color. Then, the skin splits open, showing small, black seeds inside. This is how you know it's ripe and ready to enjoy! The seeds themselves have a hot and spicy taste when you crush them.
Where it Grows
This plant grows very well in the desert, especially along riverbanks. These areas provide the water it needs to thrive in a dry environment.
