Wooly Caper Bush (Capparis tomentosa)

Family Capparaceae

A small tree occurring only in the northern and eastern regions as far south as Durban. It is a protected plant in South Africa.

It has two sharp, hooked thorns flanking each leaf. The fruit is pink to bright orange when ripe.

Extract from Palgraves: “This is one of the best-known trees among African peoples for its supposed magico-medicinal properties and has the reputation for curing a variety of complaints ranging from coughs and cold to barrenness. Moreover, if a stick is coated with a paste made from the powered root and other ingredients and pointed towards storm clouds, it is believed to act as a safeguard against floods. The Venda make a ritual remedy for pneumonia by combining parts of this tree with dried hyaena and antelope blood and mixing the concoction together with ox fat.