Mechanism of cryptovivipary in wild caper bush (Capparis sepiaria L.) Capparaceae

Cryptovivipary is the process in which seeds germinate inside the fruit but the seedling or plumule comes out when the fruit detaches from the mother plant. This dataset highlights the details of the mechanism of cryptovivipary in wild caper bush. In addition, an updated classification of viviparous plants is provided to better describe and understand this trait., After studying several populations of C. sepiaria from different localities, we concluded that the wild caper bush shows a very peculiar germination mechanism i.e. cryptoviviparous type. All the stages of cryptovivipary were observed and photographed using a Vivo 21e camera. The mechanism was drafted as per the day-wise stages of germinating seeds. Plant specimens were collected and processed for herbarium preparation by standard methodology (Jain & Rao 1977)., , # Data from: Mechanism of cryptovivipary in wild caper bush (Capparis sepiaria L.) Capparaceae

**Description:**

After observing the germination mechanism at different localities, we collected 421 mature fruits of *C. sepiaria* from Dandoba Hills (MH) and checked for germination mechanism. A total of 212 fruits in a single bush showed germinated seeds inside with uncoiling embryos were observed. That means that 50% of the fruits showed cryptovivipary and seeds from the rest of the fruits failed to germinate. The phenomenon was compared with the classification of vivipary described by Elmqvist & Cox (1996) and it was concluded that *C. sepiaria* shows cryptovivipary. That means Cryptovivipary is not ecologically but genetically fixed and an evolved mechanism in caper bush. This has also been reported by Gupta (1965). The mechanism of cryptovivipary in *C. sepiaria* shows the following stages.

**Stage I: (Maturation stage):** Fruits become completely mature in monsoon season after 3...