Ziziphus
From Free net encyclopedia
Current revision
{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Ziziphus
| image = Jujube fruits CDFA CA.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = Ziziphus zizyphus fruit
| regnum = Plantae
| divisio = Magnoliophyta
| classis = Magnoliopsida
| ordo = Rosales
| familia = Rhamnaceae
| genus = Ziziphus
| genus_authority = Tourn. ex L.
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
About 40, including:
Ziziphus glabarrima
Ziziphus joazeiro
Ziziphus lotus
Ziziphus mauritiana
Ziziphus spinachristi
Ziziphus spinosa
Ziziphus zizyphus
}}
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 parts of the Old 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, reminiscant of a date in texture and flavour.
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 Jujube (Z. zizyphus) is the best known species. Other species include Z. spinachristi from southwestern Asia, Z. lotus from the Mediterranean region, and Ber (Z. mauritiana), which is found from western Africa to India. Ziziphus joazeiro Mart. grows in the Caatinga of Brasil.
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.eo:zizifo fr:Jujubier vi:Chi Táo ta Template:Tree-stub