The Ceylon caper’s (Capparis zeylanica) flower buds are usually eaten pickled. The leaves, buds and young fruits are said to contain antioxidants, anti-inflammatory and immunostimulant compounds. It is the bark that is most often used in medicine and it has recently been investigated as an antidiarrheal herb.

This painting is part of local amateur botanist Richard Cresswell’s (1815–1882) collection. It is one of 86 Indian paintings (mostly botanical) and dates to the early 1800s. Many of the plants depicted in this collection were known for their use in Ayurvedic medicine. One of the world’s oldest medicinal systems, it has been practised in India for 3,000 years.