{{Short description|Species of tree}} {{redirect|Kair|the village in India|Kair, Delhi|the village in Iran|Kair, Iran}} {{speciesbox |image = Kair.jpg |status = LC |status_system = IUCN3.1 |status_ref = <ref name=IUCN>{{cite iucn |author=Oldfield, S. |year=2023 |amends=2020 |title=''Capparis decidua'' |article-number=e.T19289281A240727434 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T19289281A240727434.en}}</ref> |genus = Capparis |species = decidua |authority = (Forssk.) Edgew. |synonyms = {{Plainlist | style = margin-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em; | *''Capparis aphylla'' <small>Roth</small> *''Capparis decidua'' <small>Pax</small> *''Capparis sodada'' <small>R.Br.</small> nom. illeg. *''Sodada decidua'' <small>Forssk.</small> }} |synonyms_ref = <ref>{{citation |url=http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-2697116 |title=The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species |access-date=4 June 2016}}</ref> }}
'''''Capparis decidua''''', commonly known as '''karira/kair''' (Rajasthani: '''कैर'''), or '''karil''' (Braj Bhakha: '''करील''')<ref>{{citation |url=https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxonomydetail.aspx?id=8890 |title=USDA GRIN Taxonomy|access-date=4 June 2016}}</ref> is a useful plant in its marginal habitat.
== Description == It is a small much-branched tree or shrub. It bears a mass of slender, gray-green leafless branches, the small caducous leaves being found only on young shoots.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |title=The Complete Guide to Edible Wild Plants |publisher=Skyhorse Publishing |others=United States Department of the Army |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-60239-692-0 |location=New York |page=112 |language=en-US |oclc=277203364}}</ref> It rarely exceeds a height of {{Convert|5|m|abbr=off}}.<ref name="Burdak, L.R. 1982 p.55">Burdak, L.R. (1982). Recent Advances in Desert Afforestation- Dissertation submitted to Shri R.N. Kaul, Director, Forestry Research, F.R.I., Dehra Dun. p. 55</ref>
The new flush of leaves appears in November–January. Red conspicuous flowers appear in March to April and August–September and ripe by May and October. The pink fleshy berries are readily eaten by birds. It coppices well and produces root suckers freely. It is extremely drought-resistant and tolerates some frost.<ref name="Burdak, L.R. 1982 p.55"/>
{{gallery|mode=packed |Kair.jpg|Tree without fruits |Capparis decidua flower DSC0611.jpg|Flower on branch |Capparis decidua Flower.jpg|Flowers |Capparis decidua tree with fruits.JPG|Tree with fruits |Capparis decidua green unripe fruits.JPG|Unripe fruits on the tree |Capparis decidua unripe fruits.JPG|Unripe fruits |Capparis decidua ripe fruits.JPG|Ripe fruits |Capparis decidua DSC0933.jpg|Tawny eagle perched on tree }}
==Distribution and habitat== It can be found in arid regions in North Africa, the Middle East,<ref name=":0" /> and South Asia, including the Thar Desert.
Khair city in Uttar Pradesh, India is famous for '''Kair''' trees.{{citation needed|date=December 2021}}
== Cultivation and uses == [[File:Kairan (or Doran) ji Bhaaji.jpg|thumb|upright|Vegetable dish known as '''''Kairan (or Doran) ji Bhaaji''''' prepared in Tharparkar, Sindh]]
The fruit and young buds can be eaten raw.<ref name=":0" />
Its spicy fruits are used for preparing vegetables, curry and fine pickles and can attract helpful insectivores; the plant also is used in folk medicine and herbalism. It can be used in landscape gardening, afforestation and reforestation in semidesert and desert areas; it provides assistance against soil erosion.<ref>Kaul (1963), Ghosh (1977)</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
===Sources=== * {{aut|Kaul, R.N.}} (1963): Need for afforestation in the arid zones of '''Khair''', India. ''LA-YAARAN'' '''13'''. * {{aut|Ghosh, R.C.}} (1977): ''Handbook on afforestation techniques''. '''Khair''', '''India'''. * {{aut|Gupta, R.K. & Prakasah, Ishwar}} (1975): ''Environmental analysis of the Thar Desert''. Dehra Dun.
==External links== {{AfricanPlants|Capparis decidua}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q3242136}}
decidua Category:Desert fruits Category:Trees of Africa Category:Flora of the Indian subcontinent Category:Garden plants of Asia Category:Garden plants of Africa Category:Drought-tolerant trees Category:Ornamental trees Category:Flora of the Thar Desert Category:Taxa named by Peter Forsskål