Family · Rosids

Capparaceae

Capers

Shrubs and trees of warm regions with mustard-oil chemistry; flower buds of Capparis are pickled as capers.

Accepted species: 442accepted names · Kew WCVP
Genera: 15accepted genera · Kew WCVP
Origin: ≈38 MaPaleogene · crown age, Jin & Qian 2022 megatree
Centre of diversity: Africamost native species · WGSRPD

Open Capparaceae in the treePan, zoom and dig into its genera in the interactive view.

Plants you might know

Capparis
Boscia
Maerua

Genera

Capparis148 spp.
Morisonia86 spp.
Maerua71 spp.
Boscia30 spp.
Cadaba29 spp.
Ritchiea23 spp.
Crateva21 spp.
Thilachium16 spp.
Neocalyptrocalyx11 spp.
Buchholzia2 spp.
Bachmannia1 spp.
Beautempsia1 spp.
Hypselandra1 spp.
Neothorelia1 spp.
Poilanedora1 spp.

Where it grows

Africa194
Asia-Tropical124
Southern America98
Asia-Temperate61
Northern America27
Australasia23
Pacific7
Europe1

Native species richness by botanical continent (WGSRPD level 1), from Kew WCVP.

Related families

Capparaceae sits in the order Brassicales.