| Ziziphus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Ziziphus jujuba, by Adolphus Ypey | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Rosales |
| Family: | Rhamnaceae |
| Tribe: | Paliureae |
| Genus: | Ziziphus Mill. (1754) |
| Type species | |
| Ziziphus jujuba Mill. (1768), nom. cons.[2]
| |
| Species[1] | |
|
68; see text | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Ziziphus /ˈzɪzɪfəs/[3] is a genus of spiny shrubs and small trees in the buckthorn family, Rhamnaceae. It includes 68 species native to tropical and subtropical Africa, Eurasia, and Australia and tropical South America.[1] The leaves are alternate, entire, with three prominent basal veins, and often aromatic. The flowers are small, inconspicuous yellow-green. The fruit is an edible drupe, often very sweet and sugary, reminiscent of a date in texture and flavour.
Well known species include the commonly cultivated Ziziphus jujuba (jujube), Ziziphus spina-christi from southwestern Asia, Ziziphus lotus from the Mediterranean region, and ber (Ziziphus mauritiana), which is found from western Africa to India.
- ^ a b c "Ziziphus Mill". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
- ^ "Ziziphus Mill". TROPICOS. Missouri Botanical Database. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
- ^ Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995:606–607