Ziziphus mauritiana - Flora of Qatar

Ziziphus mauritiana Lam.

Synonyms

Paliurus mairei, Rhamnus jujuba, Ziziphus jujuba, Ziziphus mairei, Ziziphus muratiana, Ziziphus orthacantha, Ziziphus rotunda

Common names

Chinee Apple, Indian plum, Jujube, Masau, sidr

Extract from Wikipedia article

Ziziphus mauritiana, also known as Ber, Chinee Apple, Jujube, Indian plum and Masau is a tropical fruit tree species belonging to the family Rhamnaceae.[+]

Z. mauritiana is a spiny, evergreen shrub or small tree up to 15 m high, with trunk 40 cm or more in diameter; spreading crown; stipular spines and many drooping branches. The fruit is of variable shape and size. It can be oval, obovate, oblong or round, and that can be 1-2.5 in (2.5-6.25 cm) long, depending on the variety. The flesh is white and crisp. When slightly underipe, this fruit is a bit juicy and has a pleasant aroma. The fruit's skin is smooth, glossy, thin but tight.

The species is believed to have originated in Indo-Malaysian region of South-East Asia. It is now widely naturalised throughout the Old World tropics from Southern Africa through the Middle East to the Indian Subcontinent and China, Indomalaya, and into Australasia and the Pacific Islands. It can form dense stands and become invasive in some areas, including Fiji and Australia and has become a serious environmental weed in Northern Australia. It is a fast growing tree with a medium lifespan, that can quickly reach up to 10–40 ft (3 to 12 m) tall.