Indigenous Trees of Aravali: Kareel

Kareel, Capparis decidua, is a small tree or shrub, bearing a mass of thin and thorny gray-green leafless branches and is also known as Ker, Kair, Teent, Della and Nepti in different regions of India.It thrives in extreme heat, drought and on shallow rocky/sandy soil. This resilient tree actually blossoms and bears fruits during the driest seasons. 


The small leaves are found only on young shoots, appearing in November to January. Red conspicuous flowers appear in March to April and August–September. The shrub is extremely drought-resistant, and provides assistance against soil erosion.


The fruit are small berries that start green and turn red/pink when ripe, and are a rich source of vitamin C. Both fruits and young buds can be eaten raw. The fruits are extensively used in cooking and for making pickles. In Ayurveda, the root bark and the fruits are used for relief from pain, cough and asthma and diabetes. The fruit is known to act as a natural laxative

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