''Capparis spinosa'' subsp. ''nummularia'', the wild passionfruit, or (locally)

caperbush ''Capparis'' is a flowering plant genus, comprising around 250 species in the family (biology), family Capparaceae which is included in the Brassicaceae in the unrevised APG II system. These plants are shrubs or lianas and are collectively known ...

, is an Australian native plant. It is a

subspecies In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...

of the

caper ''Capparis spinosa'', the caper bush, also called Flinders rose, is a perennial plant that bears rounded, fleshy leaves and large white to pinkish-white flowers. The plant is best known for the edible flower buds (capers), used as a seasoning ...

adapted to deserts. Its name in the

Arrernte language Arrernte or Aranda (; ) or sometimes referred to as Upper Arrernte (Upper Aranda), is a dialect cluster in the Arandic language group spoken in parts of the Northern Territory, Australia, by the Arrernte people. Other spelling variations are A ...

Central Australia Central Australia, also sometimes referred to as the Red Centre, is an inexactly defined region associated with the geographic centre of Australia. In its narrowest sense it describes a region that is limited to the town of Alice Springs and i ...

is ''Merne arrutnenge''. Wild passionfruit is a tasty

bush tucker Bush tucker, also called bush food, is any food native to Australia and used as sustenance by Indigenous Australians, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, but it can also describe any native flora or fauna used for culinary or ...

food. When it ripens, the skin turns orange and splits open and the little black seeds become visible. It is then ready to eat. The seeds are hot and spicy when crushed. It grows prolifically in riverbanks in the desert.

References

* Hiddins, L., ''Bush Tucker Field Guide'', Explore Australia Publishing 2003, page 48 * Low, T., ''Wild Food Plants of Australia'', Angus & Robertson Publishers 1991, page 173 spinosa subsp. nummularia Bushfood Australian Aboriginal bushcraft Rosids of Western Australia Flora of the Northern Territory Flora of Queensland Plant subspecies {{Australia-rosid-stub