Capparis spinosa var. nummularia – Wild Passionfruit (seed)

Description

Wild passionfruit, or (locally) caper bush, is an Australian native plant. It is a subspecies of the caper adapted to deserts. Its name in the Arrernte language of Central Australia is Merne arrutnenge. Wild passionfruit is a tasty bush tucker 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.

Related to the commercial caper (Capparis spinosa), the young flower buds perhaps may be pickled like capers and the edible fruit eaten without preparation, they taste sweet and are eaten whole.

Care and Cultivation of Capparis spinosa var. nummularia

Capparis spinosa var. nummularia seeds should be sow just below the  surface of a well drained seed raising mix in the warmer months, once daily minimum temperatures are above 15 degrees C. (Nicking the seeds may increase germination rates but they should germinate well with no treatment). Likes a full sun position and well-drained soil. Will respond well to regular watering over the warmer months. Frost and drought hardy.

10 seeds per packet (from Sandfire WA)