Back

Capparis micracantha subsp. korthalsiana (Miq.) M.Jacobs

Family Name:	Capparaceae
Common Name:	Caper-Thorn, Thorn Caper, Melada, Jambol Merah, Thai Caper Flame Bean, 小刺山柑

Full Sun

Moderate Water

Butterfly Host Plant

Native to Singapore

Fruit or Vegetable

Herb or Spice

Ornamental Flowers

Shrub

Tree

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Tree (Small (6m-15m)), Shrub
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Native Distribution	From South China to Myanmar and Indochina, to the Philippines, Borneo, Java, and the Moluccas (including Singapore)
Native Habitat	Terrestrial
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Local Conservation Status

Native to Singapore (Critically Endangered (CR))

Growth Form	It is a half-erect shrub or tree with hanging branches up to 10 m tall, with spiny trunk and twigs.
Foliage	Its alternate, stalked leaves possess leathery leaf blades that are oblong, occasionally almost lance-shaped, dull yellowish-green when dry, and 6.4–30 by 2.5–13 cm, with blunt or slightly pointed tips.
Flowers	Its flowering shoot bears rows of 2–6 white, feathery flowers above the leaf’s axil. Its flowers are also about 2.5 cm long and wide, with much reduced leaves at the end of the twig. The yellow, upper petals turn dull purple, with white tips, while its lateral petals are white.

Fruit	Its light yellowish-brown fruits are nearly round, and 3–7 by 3–4.5 cm, with four vertical grooves. They also contain numerous seeds embedded in the orangish-red pulp. Its red to shiny black seeds are smooth, and up to 6–8 by 4–7 cm.
Habitat	It grows in evergreen, monsoon or teak forests on dry soil. It also grows in hedges, savannahs, and thickets, below 500 m altitude. It occurs locally in Pulau Ubin.
Associated Fauna	Its flowers are insect-pollinated. It is the preferred local food plant for caterpillars of the butterflies chocolate albatross (Appias lyncida vasava), Appias nephele, and Cepora boisduvaliana. It is also the food plant for caterpillars of the striped albatross (Appias libythea olferna), the adult of which lays its eggs singly on a leaf or flower part.
Cultivation	It can be propagated by seed.
Etymology	Greek Capparis, ancient Greek name for these evergreen shrubs; Greek mikros, small; Greek anthos, flower, referring to the plant’s small flowers
Ethnobotanical Uses	Edible Plant Parts : Edible Fruits Food (Herb or Spice) (Fruit or Vegetable): The fruit pulp is sweet but unsafe to eat when unripe. Medicinal: The stem and roots can be used medicinally.

Landscaping	It is grown in parks as an ornamental tree for its attractive white flowers.
Desirable Plant Features	Ornamental Flowers, Ornamental Fruits
Landscape Uses	Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens

Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna	Butterfly Host Plant (Leaves)
Pollination Method(s)	Biotic (Fauna)
Seed or Spore Dispersal	Biotic (Fauna)

Rootzone Tolerance	Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Fertile Loamy Soils
Propagation Method	Seed

Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Alternate
Foliar Attachment to Stem	Petiolate
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage (Lanceolate, Oblong)
Foliar Venation	Pinnate / Net
Foliar Margin	Entire
Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio	3.0 (Tree - Intermediate Canopy)

Flower Location

Axillary

Mature Fruit Colour(s)	Brown, Red
Fruit Classification	Simple Fruit
Fruit Type	Fleshy Fruit , Non-Accessory Fruit

Images

Master ID	1487
Species ID	2780
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.

Species record last updated on: 27 October 2022.