Capparis tomentosa
Capparis tomentoosa, commonly known as the hairy caper, is a resilient, evergreen shrub native to arid regions of Africa and Asia. Renowned for its medicinal properties, this plant is utilized in traditional practices to treat inflammation, digestive issues, and skin ailments, offering significant pharmacological potential for modern therapeutic research.
- Scientific name: Capparis tomentosa
- Family: Capparaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is part of the order Brassicales and the family Capparaceae. Its specific taxonomic placement is within the genus Capparis, where it is known as Capparis tomentoza.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Brassicales | WCVP |
| Family | Capparaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Capparis | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Capparis tomentoza, is recognized by various regional names across different linguistic groups. In Arabic, it is known as قبار لبدي, while in Amharic, it is referred to as ጉመሮ. It is called Xarañ in Wolof, Ngumi daleewi in Fula, and Sansaŋwa in Dagbani.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ar | قبار لبدي | Wikidata |
| am | ጉመሮ | Wikidata |
| wo | Xarañ | Wikidata |
| ff | Ngumi daleewi | Wikidata |
| dag | Sansaŋwa | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is primarily distributed across the West Tropical Africa region. Within this geographical area, it can be found growing in the nation of Benin. Its presence extends further to include the territory of Burkina. Additionally, the species is documented within the borders of Gambia and Ghana. Finally, its natural range encompasses the country of Guinea.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Burkina | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Gambia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ivory Coast | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Mali | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Mauritania | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Niger | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Capparis tomentoza, is highly valued in traditional medicine, with various components utilized for their therapeutic properties. Among its many usable elements, the dry leaves serve as a significant part in medicinal preparations, often being processed and used to treat specific ailments. By utilizing the dry leaves, practitioners can harness the concentrated botanical compounds stored within the foliage to create infusions or decoctions.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| dry leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Capparis tomentosa has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include arsenic, chromium, lead, nickel.
- Total chemicals
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| arsenic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| chromium | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| lead | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| nickel | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |