Ziziphus lotus
| Ziziphus lotus | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Rosales |
| Family: | Rhamnaceae |
| Genus: | Ziziphus |
| Species: | Z. lotus |
| Binomial name | |
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Ziziphus lotus (L.) Lam. |
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| Synonyms | |
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Ziziphus lotus (jujube) is a deciduous shrub in the buckthorn family Rhamnaceae, native to the Mediterranean region, including the Sahara in Morocco. It is closely related to Ziziphus jujuba (jujube).
Ziziphus lotus can reach a height of 2–5 metres (6.6–16.4 ft), with shiny green leaves about 5 cm long. The edible fruit is a globose dark yellow drupe 1–1.5 cm diameter.
The fruit is called a nabk. Common names in Arabic are sidr, rubeida ("after its crouch-shaped treetop"), nbeg in Tunisia and annab in Lebanon. The name of the plant in Cyprus is palloura (Greek: παλλούρα) or konnarka (Greek: κονναρκά).
Ziziphus lotus is often regarded as the lotus tree of Greek mythology. It is thought to be referenced in the Odyssey, consumed by the Lotus-Eaters as a narcotic to induce peaceful apathy.
A sacred lotus tree planted near the temple of Vulcan in Rome was said to have been planted by Romulus; it was still standing in the time of Pliny the Elder.
In Arabic-speaking regions the Ziziphus lotus and alternatively the jujube are closely associated with the lote-trees (sidr) which are mentioned in the Quran, while in Palestine it is rather the Ziziphus spina-christi that is called sidr.
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Wikipedia