Ziziphus

Taxobox
name = "Ziziphus"

---

image_width = 240px
image_caption = "Ziziphus zizyphus" shrub
regnum = Plantae
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 shrubs and small trees in the buckthorn family Rhamnaceae, 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 are deciduous, others evergreen. The flowers are small, inconspicuous yellow-green. The fruit is an edible drupe, 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 southwestern Asia, "Z. lotus" from the Mediterranean region, and Ber ("Z. mauritiana"), which is found from western Africa to India. "Ziziphus joazeiro" grows in the Caatinga of Brazil.

There are about 40 species, including:

Ecology

"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".

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 the Date 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]