Flora en Israel – Capparis spinosa, Caper Bush – פרחי ישראל

Capparis spinosa, or Capparis aegyptia (Capparaceae),

Caper bush
(Hebrew: Tsalaf qotsani, Zlaf kotsani, (צָלָף קוֹצָנִי).

The name of “caper” is borrowed from Arabic al-kabara (Its Arabic name is Kaber or lussef), which is of course related to Latin capparis, what was borrowed from Greek kapparis whose origin (as that of the plant) is unknown but probably West or Central Asia. A Another theory links kapparis to the name of the island Cyprus (Kypros), where capers grow plentifully. The botanical species name spinosa “thorny” refers to the pair of hooked spines at the base of each leaf stalk. It has tough round leaves and beautiful white or pink flowers that are hermaphrodite. The plant contains the anti-oxidant bioflavinoid rutin which also contributes to the flavor. The white spots often seen covering the surface of pickled capers are said to be rutin which crystallized during the pickling procedure. The caper was used in ancient Greece as a carminative (medication for treating gas in the digestive system). It is represented in archaeological levels in the form of carbonized seeds and rarely as flower buds and fruits from archaic and classical contexts. Athenaeus (200CE) in Deipnosophistae (Deipnosophists or Banquet for the Learned) pays a lot of attention to the caper, as do Pliny (NH XIX, XLVIII.163) and Theophrastus. Dioscoride (MM 2.204t) also provides instructions on the use of sprouts, roots, leaves and seeds in the treatment of strangury and inflammation. Powdered root bark is quoted by the Venetian Prospero Alpini (1553-1617) as a treatment for skin ailments, and as a vermifuge (substance which kills worms) and emmenagogue (substance that stimulates menstruation) . The Biblical avionah is believed to be the caper bush. The caper is found in only one Bible verse, Eccles. 12:5: “Has reference to man, in the infirmities of old age, when frivolous affairs are no longer desired”. Although the NIV translates the Hebrew avionah as “desire,” this chapter is a well-known allegory of old age with reference to sight, hearing, white hair, and, eventually, death. Included in the list of features of old age is when “…the caper berry is ineffective” – likely a reference to the use of the caper fruit, technically a berry, as an aphrodisiac. The flowers of wild caper bushes are a common sight in all countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, extending even to the Sahara in North Africa and the dry regions of Central Asia, where the plant is thought to have originated. The delicate, cream-white petals and lively purple stamina persist only a few hours. Besides, the flowers are rarely seen in caper gardens as the capers are picked daily, since the youngest flower buds (about the size of peas) have the highest quality. Capers are valued in proportion to the smallness of their size. Capers are cultivated in France, Spain, Italy, Algeria, Iran, Cyprus and Greece. The flower buds are pickled in oil, brine or vinegar and used as a flavouring in sauces, salads. The fragrance is spicy and a little bit sour (because of the pickling); the taste is slightly astringent and pungent. The young fruits (French cornichon de c?pres, in English also known as caper berries) and tender branch tips can also be pickled and used as a condiment. Caper berries have a stronger, more dominant but otherwise similar flavour.