CAPPARACEAE

CAPER FAMILY

Staria S. Vanderpool

Annual, shrub, tree, ill-smelling
Leaves generally 1-palmate, generally alternate, generally petioled; stipules generally minute, often bristle-like or hairy; leaflets 3–7
Inflorescence: raceme, head, or flowers solitary, generally longer in fruit; bracts generally 3-parted below, simple above, or 0
Flower generally bisexual, radial to ± bilateral; sepals generally 4, free or fused, generally persistent; petals generally 4, free, ± clawed; stamens generally 6, free, exserted, anthers generally coiling at dehiscence; ovary superior, generally on stalk-like receptacle, chamber generally 1, placentas generally 2, parietal, style 1, persistent, stigma generally minute, ± head-like
Fruit: generally capsule, septicidal; valves generally 2, deciduous, leaving septum (frame-like placentas) behind; pedicel generally ± reflexed to spreading
Genera in family: 45 genera, 800 species: widespread tropical to arid temp; some cultivated (Capparis spinosa , caper bush)
Reference: [Ernst 1963 J Arnold Arbor 44:81–93]
CA members placed in subfamily Cleomoideae. Alternate family name: Capparidaceae.

CLEOME

Annual, generally ± glabrous
Stem generally branched from upper nodes
Leaf: petiole 5–45 mm; leaflets generally 3
Inflorescence: raceme, terminal, generally 1–4 cm in flower, generally 5–40 cm in fruit; pedicels 4–20 mm
Flower often ± unisexual (stamens or pistils vestigial), ± bilateral, most parts generally yellow; sepals free or fused; petals sessile to short-clawed
Fruit: capsule, longer than wide; septum linear to oblong; receptacle stalk-like, reflexed to ascending
Seeds 10–40
Species in genus: 150–170 species: especially tropical, subtropical Am, Africa; some tropical weeds
Etymology: (Early Eur name for a mustard-like plant)

Native

C. serrulata Pursh

ROCKY MOUNTAIN BEE PLANT

Plant open, 3–8 dm, ± glabrous
Leaf: leaflets 2–6 cm, elliptic
Flower: sepals fused in basal half, persistent, generally 1.7–3 mm, ovate, acuminate, minutely dentate, purple to green; petals 7–12 mm, oblong to ovate, purple, rarely white; stamens 18–24 mm, purple, anthers 2–2.3 mm, green; style 0.1–0.5 mm
Fruit 30–55 mm, 3–6 mm wide, ± round in transverse section, smooth; receptacle 10–15 mm
Chromosomes: 2n=34,60
Ecology: Sagebrush scrub, pinyon/juniper woodland
Elevation: 1200–1700 m.
Bioregional distribution: Klamath Ranges (occasional waif in s California)
Distribution outside California: to Great Plains, s British Columbia
Horticultural information: TRY.