® The African Journal of Plant Science and Biotechnology ©2009 Global Science Books Taxonomic Study of Capparaceae from Egypt: Revisited Wafaa M. Kamel1* • Monier M. Abd El-Ghani2 • Mona M. El-Bous1 1 Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt 2 The Herbarium, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza 12613, Egypt Corresponding author : *
[email protected] ABSTRACT The systematic revision of the Egyptian species belonging to the family Capparaceae based on fresh materials with extensive field observations and herbarium materials is reported. This revision showed the presence of four genera Boscia, Capparis, Cadaba and Maerua. Species delimitation in Capparis was re-evaluated, resulting in the recognition of four species of Capparis: C. decidua (Forssk.) Edgew, C. sinaica Veill., C. spinosa L. (with three varieties viz., spinosa, canescens and deserti) and C. orientalis Veill. The last species is proposed to be elevated from var. inermis to the species level. Our results revealed also that leaves, stipules, flowers and fruit characters are of significant taxonomic value. A key for identification of the genera, species and varieties is provided. Type, synonyms, and selected specimens for each species are also presented. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Keywords: Capparaceae, Boscia, Capparis, Cadaba, Maerua taxonomy, Egypt INTRODUCTION more than one genus from any of the tribes recognized by the authors, monophyly was contradicted (Hall et al. 2002). Capparaceae is a medium-sized family of approximately Hutchinson’s classification is particularly unsatisfactory 40–45 genera and 700–900 species, whose members present because it splits two genera, Maerua and Cadaba, into dif- considerable diversity in habit, fruit, and floral features ferent tribes because they are polymorphic with respect to (Cronquist 1981; Heywood 1993; Mabberley 1997).