Summary ⁵

Syrian Beancaper (Zygophyllum fabago) is a perennial sub-shrub or forb. Stems are green, succulent, and multi-branched forming a compact shrub up to 3 feet tall and 3 feet wide. Flowers have 5 white, yellow or salmon petals with 10-12 orange stamens that extend past the petals. Flowers bloom May-August. Leaves are opposite, waxy, and compound with 2 thick, fleshy, hairless leaflets. The fruit is a 4-5 celled capsule with one brown, kidney bean-shaped seed in each cell. Plants reproduce through seeds or root fragments. Flower buds can be pickled and used as a caper substitute.

Source:
https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/agconservation/syrian-beancaper
Colroado Weed Management Associacion. Noxious Weeds of Colorado. Edition 11. Edited by Alicia Doran, Steve Anthony, and Cathy Shelton. 2013. p. 183.

Identification ⁶

Height: 3 feet tall
Shape: Shrub
Flowers: 5 white, yellow or salmon petals with 10-12 orange stamens that extend past the petals, blooms May-August
Stems: Green, succulent, and multi-branched
Leaves: Opposite, waxy, and compound with 2 thick, fleshy, hairless leaflets
Fruit: 4-5 celled capsule with one rough,brown, kidney bean-shaped seed in each cell
Toxic: No
Root: Taproot several inches wide with several branches

Source:
https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/agconservation/syrian-beancaper
Colroado Weed Management Associacion. Noxious Weeds of Colorado. Edition 11. Edited by Alicia Doran, Steve Anthony, and Cathy Shelton. 2013. p. 183.

Origin/Habitat ⁶

Syrian Beancaper is found in dry grasslands, deserts, rocky areas, and gravelly soils. It is found up to 4,300 feet elevation. The waxy coating on the stems and leaves helps it retain moisture and can protect the plant from herbicides.

Source:
https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/agconservation/syrian-beancaper
Colroado Weed Management Associacion. Noxious Weeds of Colorado. Edition 11. Edited by Alicia Doran, Steve Anthony, and Cathy Shelton. 2013. p. 183.

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Philmarin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Morsana-flor-2.JPG
2. (c) Philmarin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Morsana-flor-3.JPG
3. (c) Andre Hosper, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Andre Hosper
4. (c) Philmarin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Morsana-frutos-3.JPG
5. Adapted by Colorado Parks and Wildlife from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zygophyllum_fabago
6. (c) Colorado Parks and Wildlife, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

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