Capparis spinosa var. inermis Turra: Presentation, Uses and Socio-economic Benefits
Refka Zouaoui *
Laboratoire d’Ecologie Forestière, Institut National de Recherches en Génie Rural, Université de Carthage, Eaux et Forêts, LR161INRGREF03, Rue Hédi Karray, BP. 10, Ariana, 2080, Tunisie.
Hanine Ben Aoun
Laboratoire d’Ecologie Forestière, Institut National de Recherches en Génie Rural, Université de Carthage, Eaux et Forêts, LR161INRGREF03, Rue Hédi Karray, BP. 10, Ariana, 2080, Tunisie.
Mejda Abassi
Laboratoire d’Ecologie Forestière, Institut National de Recherches en Génie Rural, Université de Carthage, Eaux et Forêts, LR161INRGREF03, Rue Hédi Karray, BP. 10, Ariana, 2080, Tunisie.
Youssef Ammari
Laboratoire d’Ecologie Forestière, Institut National de Recherches en Génie Rural, Université de Carthage, Eaux et Forêts, LR161INRGREF03, Rue Hédi Karray, BP. 10, Ariana, 2080, Tunisie.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The caper (Capparis spinosa var. Inermis Turra) is a bushy sub-shrub, 30 to 50 cm high. It is a small "sarmentose" shrub with unarmed twigs belonging to the Capparaceae family. It is a species of Saharo-Arabian and Mediterranean origins, which is characterized by food, ecological, socio-economic and ornamental importance. It is also known for its medicinal and therapeutic virtues, which are very interesting given the pharmacological activities of the phytochemicals present in the different parts of the caper tree (roots, leaves, buds, fruits, bark and seeds). Its mode of propagation is by seed or by semi-woody, woody, semi-herbaceous and herbaceous cuttings.
Keywords: Capparis spinosa, use, ecology, multiplication techniques, importance