Ziziphus

The genus name is derived via classical Latin from Hellenistic Greek, where it is presumed to have been borrowed from another language, perhaps from zizfum or zizafun, the Persian word for Z. lotus. ==Ecology==

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. Species are distributed throughout the world in tropical and warm temperate areas, from rain forests to deserts. Some species are evergreen, others are winter or drought deciduous. Species adapted to dry climates are smaller and have oleifera cells that produce a fragrant aroma. ==Uses==

The temperate Ziziphus jujuba (Chinese jujube) and the tropical Ziziphus mauritiana (Indian Jujube) are economically important fruit trees. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), suan zao ren (Ziziphus jujuba) 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. ==Mythology==

The mythological lotus tree which occurs in Homer's Odyssey is often equated with Z. lotus. == Species ==

68 species are accepted. Formerly placed here • Condaliopsis obtusifolia – Lotebush (as Ziziphus obtusifolia (Hook. ex Torr. & A.Gray) A.Gray) • Pseudoziziphus celata (as Ziziphus celata Judd & Hall) • Pseudoziziphus parryi – Parry's Jujube (as Ziziphus parryi Torr.) • Sarcomphalus mistol (as Ziziphus mistol Griseb.) • Ziziphus lloydi A.Gray Fossil species • † Ziziphus hyperboreus Heer (Greenland, Eocene fossil) • † Ziziphus wyomingianis Berry (Tipperary, Wind River Basin Wyoming, USA, Eocene fossil) :† = Extinct ==Gallery==

File:Ziziphus zizyphus foliage.jpg|Ziziphus jujuba foliage File:Ziziphus jujuba MS 2461.JPG|Dried fruits (azufaifas) in southern Spain of Ziziphus jujuba File:Azufaifas (fcm).jpg|Azufaifas from Almería File:Indian jujube (fruit).jpg|Ziziphus mauritiana File:Ziziphus oenoplia W IMG 3626.jpg|Ziziphus oenoplia in Shamirpet, Rangareddy district, Andhra Pradesh, India File:Ziziphus oenoplia W2 IMG 3624.jpg|Ziziphus oenoplia in Shamirpet, Rangareddy district, Andhra Pradesh, India File:Ziziphus spina-Christi.jpg|Ziziphus spina-christi File:Ziziphus caracutta syn Z xylopyra (Ghatbor) in Vanasthalipuram, Hyderabad, AP W IMG 9259.jpg|Ziziphus xylopyrus in Hyderabad, India File:Ziziphus caracutta syn Z xylopyra (Ghatbor) in Vanasthalipuram, Hyderabad, AP W IMG 9256.jpg|Ziziphus xylopyrus in Hyderabad, India File:Ziziphus caracutta syn Z xylopyra (Ghatbor) in Vanasthalipuram, Hyderabad, AP W IMG 9255.jpg|Ziziphus xylopyrus in Hyderabad, India File:Iran Zizyphus.JPG|Persian Zizyphus in Iran File:شکوفه درخت کنار، بهبهان.jpg|alt=Ziziphus Blossom in Behbahan, Iran|Ziziphus blossom in Behbahan, Iran File:میوه درخت کنار، بهبهان.jpg|alt=Ziziphus Fruit, Behbahan, Iran|Ziziphus fruit, Behbahan, Iran ==References==