Ziziphus

Ziziphus is a genus of about 40 species of spiny shrubs and small trees in the buckthorn family, Rhamnaceae. They are distributed in the warm-temperate and subtropical regions throughout the world. The leaves are alternate, entire, with three prominent veins at the base, and 2–4 centimetres (0.79–1.57 in) long; some species are deciduous, others evergreen. The flowers are small, inconspicuous yellow-green.

Species

The best-known species is Ziziphus jujuba (jujube), which produces an edible fruit that is similar to a date and is often dried and used in cooking. Other species, such as Ziziphus spina-christi (Christ's thorn jujube), are also known for their fruits. The leaves of certain species, such as Ziziphus mauritiana (Indian jujube), are used in traditional medicine.

Cultivation and uses

Ziziphus species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Bucculatrix zizyphella, which feeds exclusively on the genus, and Endoclita malabaricus. The fruit is an edible oval drupe 1.5–3 centimetres (0.59–1.18 in) deep; when immature it is smooth-green, with the consistency and taste of an apple, maturing brown to purplish-black and eventually wrinkled, looking like a small date. There is a single hard stone similar to an olive stone.

In culture

The Ziziphus zizyphus (jujube) is mentioned in the Bible, in the book of Psalms, as a tree that the righteous shall grow like.

See also

• List of Ziziphus species
• Jujube
• Sidr honey

Ziziphus Resources
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