Ziziphus

Ziziphus () is a genus of spiny shrubs and small trees in the buckthorn family, Rhamnaceae. It includes 68 species native to tropical and subtropical parts of Africa, Eurasia, Australia and South America. 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, commonly cultivated species i.e. jujubes include the Chinese jujube (Ziziphus jujuba) of China and Indian jujube (Ziziphus mauritiana) spread from western Africa to India; other species like Ziziphus spina-christi from southwestern Asia and Ziziphus lotus from the Mediterranean region are significant to local cultures within their habitats.