Ziziphus spina-christi

Not to be confused with Ziziphus jujuba, Paliurus spina-christi, or Ziziphus nummularia.

Ziziphus spina-christi, known as the Christ's thorn jujube, is a thorny^[3] and evergreen tree or plant.

Ziziphus spina-christi
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Rosales
Family:	Rhamnaceae
Genus:	Ziziphus
Species:	Z. spina-christi
Binomial name
Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) Desf.
Synonyms[2]
Rhamnus spina-christi L.

Distribution and habitat

It is native to the Levant, East Africa, and Mesopotamia.^[4]

Ecology

In the Levant, it grows in valleys up to an elevation of 500 metres (1,600 ft),^[5] and is drought tolerant and heat-resistant.^[6] The seed, contained within a small, oblong woody pit, is opened and eaten by local fauna, including the rock hyrax.

Uses

The ripe fruits are edible.^[7]

Historically, it was utilized in ancient Egyptian medicine for its supposed anti-inflammatory properties, specifically in treating pain, swelling, and heat. An in vitro study has suggested that the plant might have anti-inflammatory properties, identifying active compounds such as epigallocatechin and gallocatechin that inhibit inflammatory pathways like NF-κB.^[8]

In culture

In the Levant and wider Middle East, it is called sidr (associated with the lote tree of the Quran),^{[citation needed]} and is common in the Jordan Valley and around Jerusalem,^[9] as well as in the Hajar Mountains of the United Arab Emirates.^[10] By some traditions, it was the tree from which Jesus' crown of thorns was made.^[11] Matthew George Easton argues that Z. spina-christi is too brittle to be bent into a crown, and suggests another local plant, Ziziphus lotus.^[12]

The oldest known Z. spina-christi is located in Ir Ovot, in the south of Israel.^[13] It is estimated to be between 1500 and 2000 years old.^[14][15] It is believed locally to be the very tree from which Jesus' crown of thorns was made.^[16] It is the national tree of Qatar and the symbol of the central Arava.^{[citation needed]}

In the Philippines, the Blaan people called it dadiangas. This was the former name of General Santos City.^{[citation needed]}

Gallery

• 
  Wild tree in Iran
• 
  Thorns, Jardin des plantes, France
• 
  Blossom, Behbahan, Iran
• 
  Fruit, in Israel
• 
  Fruit, Behbahan, Iran