# Jamaican caper (*Quadrella cynophallophora*) The Jamaican caper is a fun plant with bright green leaves and pretty flowers. It loves warm places and can often be found near the coast in Jamaica. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![Jamaican caper](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Capparis_cynophallophora_%28Washington_DC%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Daderot, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Capparis_cynophallophora_%28Washington_DC%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Jamaican caper is a striking shrub or small tree, featuring silvery-green leaves and clusters of unique flowers. These blooms open white at dusk, revealing long, prominent stamens, then gradually turn soft pink or purple by morning, making them quite distinct. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Brassicales - **Family:** Capparaceae - **Genus:** Quadrella ## Interesting facts - Butterflies and moths love its fragrant flowers, especially at night! - Its long seed pods split open to reveal bright orange seeds, looking like beads! - The flowers open white at dusk and turn pink or purple by morning! - This tough plant can grow right on sandy beaches, even with salt spray! ## Special abilities - **Night Bloom Power:** Jamaican caper has flowers that open at dusk and change color, attracting moths and other nocturnal pollinators for reproduction. - **Salt Shield:** Jamaican caper can tolerate salty coastal conditions, allowing it to thrive where many other plants cannot survive. - **Drought Dodger:** Jamaican caper has tough, leathery leaves that help it conserve water, allowing it to survive long dry periods. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 300-800 cm - **Spread:** 200-500 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-3 cm - **Bloom Season:** Year-round in warm climates, peaking late spring to fall - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** White-lined Sphinx Moth (*Hyles lineata*) — A major nocturnal pollinator with a long proboscis. - **Pollinates:** Giant Swallowtail (*Papilio cresphontes*) — Visits flowers during the day for nectar. - **Eaten by:** [Cloudless Sulphur](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cloudless-sulphur) (*Phoebis sennae*) — Larvae feed on the leaves as a host plant. - **Eaten by:** Humans (*Homo sapiens*) — Edible fruit pulp and pickled flower buds. - **Shelter:** [Brown Anole](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-anole) (*Anolis sagrei*) — Often uses its dense foliage for cover and hunting. ## Traits - [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch plants unless you know they are safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Jamaican caper? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Jamaican caper? 300-800 cm ### How wide does Jamaican caper spread? 200-500 cm ### How big are the flowers on Jamaican caper? 2-3 cm ### When does Jamaican caper bloom? Year-round in warm climates, peaking late spring to fall ### Is Jamaican caper edible? Yes ### Is Jamaican caper toxic? None ### What is Jamaican caper's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Palma Sola Botanical Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/palma-sola-botanical-park) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden - [Curry Hammock State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/curry-hammock-state-park) — Florida, US · State Park ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Jamaican caper: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/jamaican-caper)