- Ziziphus
image_width = 240px
image_caption = "Ziziphus zizyphus " shrub
regnum =Plant ae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis =Magnoliopsida
ordo =Rosales
familia =Rhamnaceae
genus = "Ziziphus"
genus_authority = Tourn. ex L.
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = See text"Ziziphus" is a genus of about 40 species of spiny
shrub s and smalltree s in the buckthorn familyRhamnaceae , distributed in the warm-temperate and subtropical regions throughout the world. The leaves are alternate, entire, with three prominent basal veins, and 2-7 cm long; some species aredeciduous , othersevergreen . Theflower s are small, inconspicuous yellow-green. Thefruit is an edibledrupe , yellow-brown, red, or black, globose or oblong, 1-5 cm long, often very sweet and sugary, reminiscent of a date in texture and flavour.The best known species is "
Ziziphus zizyphus " (Jujube). Other species include "Z. spina-christi" from southwesternAsia , "Z. lotus" from theMediterranean region, and Ber ("Z. mauritiana"), which is found from westernAfrica toIndia . "Ziziphus joazeiro " grows in theCaatinga ofBrazil .There are about 40 species, including:
Ecology
"Ziziphus" species are used as food plants by the
larva e of someLepidoptera species including "Bucculatrix zizyphella" (which feeds exclusively on the genus) and "Endoclita malabaricus".Uses and mythology
In
traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), "suan zao ren" ("Ziziphus spinosa") is considered to be sweet and sour in taste, and neutral in action. It is believed to nourish the heart yin, augment the liver blood, and calm the spirit (TCM medical terms). It is used to treat irritability, insomnia and heart palpitations.The mythological
lotus tree is often equated with "Z. lotus", though theDate Palm is also a possible candidate. The Indian name of "Ziziphus" is "ber" (or bor).References
* [http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/splist.pl?13055 Germplasm Resources Information Network: "Ziziphus"]
* [http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/cgi-bin/nph-readbtree.pl/feout?FAMILY_XREF=&GENUS_XREF=Ziziphus&SPECIES_XREF=&TAXON_NAME_XREF=&RANK= Flora Europaea: "Ziziphus"]
* [http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ZIZIP USDA Plants Profile: "Ziziphus"]
* [http://florabrasiliensis.cria.org.br/search?taxon_id=10489 Flora Brasiliensis: "Ziziphus" species list]
* [http://www.efloras.org/browse.aspx?flora_id=3&start_taxon_id=135333 Flora of China: "Ziziphus" species list]
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