Paliurus spina-christi

Paliurus spina-christi
Paliurus spina-christi
Jerusalem Thorn (Paliurus spina-christi)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Rhamnaceae
Genus: Paliurus
Species: P. spina-christi
Binomial name
Paliurus spina-christi
Mill.
Synonyms
  • Paliurus aculeatus Lam.
  • P. australis Gaertn.
  • Rhamnus paliurus L.

Paliurus spina-christi, commonly known as Jerusalem Thorn, Garland Thorn, Christ's Thorn, or Crown of Thorns, is a species of Paliurus native to the Mediterranean region and southwest and central Asia, from Morocco and Spain east to Iran and Tajikistan.

It is a deciduous shrub or small tree growing to 3-4 m tall. The shoots are zig-zagged, with a leaf and two stipular spines (one straight, one curved) on the outside of each kink. The leaves are oval, 2-5 cm long and 1-4 cm broad, glossy green, with an entire margin. The fruit is a dry woody nutlet centred in a circular wing 2-3.5 cm diameter.

The name reflects an old legend that the spiny branches were used to make the crown of thorns placed on Christ's head before his crucifixion.

References

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